Basketball Recap: Will G. Characklis' Big Game Can't Quite Lead East Chapel Hill over Hillside

East Chapel Hill lost against Hillside back in January and unfortunately they wound up with the same result on Friday. The East Chapel Hill Wildcats lost 83-63 to the Hillside Hornets. While losing is never fun, the Wildcats can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 362nd, while the Hornets are ranked 151st).

Will G. Characklis

Field Goal Percentage (Career)

02/07/25 @ Hillside	83%
12/28/24 vs Cedar Ridge	80%
01/27/25 @ Northern Durham	50%
01/17/25 vs Hillside	50%
01/07/25 vs Broughton	50%

East Chapel Hill's defeat came despite a true team effort with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Will G. Characklis, who went 5 for 6 on his way to 14 points. The dominant performance also gave Characklis a new career-high in field goal percentage (83%). Another player making a difference was Makai Rhodes, who went 6 of 13 to rack up 15 points and seven rebounds.

It was another big night for Justin Morgan, who posted 25 points for Hillside. Khaliq Lassiter was another key player, putting up 17 points.

East Chapel Hill has traveled a rocky road recently having lost six of their last eight matches, which has put a noticeable dent in their 5-14 record this season. As for Hillside, they pushed their record up to 12-9 with the win, which was their third straight at home.

East Chapel Hill has already played their next contest, a 72-59 loss against Jordan on the 10th. As for Hillside, they will challenge Chapel Hill at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Hillside is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 64.3 points per game this season.