Panthers Keep up the Momentum

The Fayetteville Panthers went on the road to face the Rowan County Bulls, who were second in their division with a record of 5-1 for the 2024 East Coast Basketball League season. After picking up two much needed wins on the season, the Panthers knew that they had to beat the Bulls if they wanted to keep up the momentum and move up in the Power Rankings. Sitting at #8 and facing off with #3 in the league, it wasn’t going to be an easy task. Opening up the game the Panthers took a quick lead with 42 points, a high scoring first quarter and holding the Bulls to 28 points. They didn’t let up in the second quarter and kept on pushing forward with scoring 43 more points to end the first half. However, the Panthers knew there was still a lot of basketball left to be played, especially with lights out shooters on the Bulls’ roster, so if they wanted to win they would have to dig deep. Panthers would continue on beating the Bulls 162 to 150. The starting five for the Panthers had an outstanding performance, with everyone scoring in double figures and accounting for 38 of the 41 assists on 61 made baskets. Leading the way was #11 Lebrone Woodbury (6'1''-G), scoring 34 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 block. #52 Bryan Calloway (6'0''-PG-1989, college: Cent.Carolina) had another great game picking up a double-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 1 block, shooting 85.7% from beyond the arc, hitting 6 out of 7 three-pointers. #12 Chris George had an efficient night shooting 90.9% from the field, scoring 24 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks. #23 Xvetrias Rakin (6'5''-F-1994, college: Guilford Tech) scored 28 points, hitting 3 of 3 from beyond the arc, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. #8 Jaylen Green, rookie for the Panthers, with a record breaking performance almost earning his first triple-double, with a team high 18 assists, 1o points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. On a four-game winning streak the pressure has picked up for the Panthers. They are going on the road for the next two games facing off against the Kingdom Life Basketball Club first on April 13th in Albermarle, NC. The following weekend they are heading to Rocky Mount, NC to play against the Carolina Chosen Lions on April 27th.
Courtesy of: ECBL