Basketball Recap: Jayla Smith's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Hillside over East Chapel Hill

Hillside was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their third straight loss. They received a blow as they fell 42-26 to the East Chapel Hill Wildcats. The Hornets were down 37-17 at the end of the third quarter, which was just too much to recover from.

Several Hornets players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Jayla Smith, who posted eight points. Khaliya Pettaway also deserves some recognition as she posted her first blocks of the season.

Hornets

Previous 3 Games

01/17/25 @ East Chapel Hill	26-42
12/30/24 vs Southern School of Energy and Sustainability	27-54
12/28/24 vs Union Pines	44-62

Even though they lost, Hillside smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 15 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 14 offensive boards in four consecutive games.

East Chapel Hill found their leader in sophomore Alana Burroughs, who scored 12 points along with six steals and five boards. Burroughs is on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed four or more in the last nine games she's played. Another player making a difference was Sara Harline, who had five points and nine rebounds.

Hillside's defeat dropped their record down to 2-9. As for East Chapel Hill, their win bumped their record up to 3-12.

Hillside wasted no time getting back out on the court and has already played their next contest, a 75-18 loss against T.W. Andrews on the 18th. As for East Chapel Hill, a feisty cat fight is on tap when the East Chapel Hill Wildcats challenge the Chapel Hill Tigers at 6:30 p.m. on January 24th.