Basketball Recap: Maire Kelly's Big Game Can't Quite Lead St. Thomas More Academy over Wake Prep Academy

St. Thomas More Academy was not able to break out of their rough patch on Monday as the team picked up their third straight defeat. They received a blow as they fell 56-42 to the Wake Prep Academy Guardians. Sadly, that's the second time they've come up short against the Chancellors this season, as they also lost their prior matchup 58-23 back in November.

St. Thomas More Academy lost despite a true team effort on offense, the best among them being Maire Kelly, who posted 15 points. Those 15 points gave Kelly a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Adella Dehring, who earned seven points and three steals.

Wake Prep Academy found their leader in freshman Beanie Ballman, who went 6 of 14 on her way to 13 points and seven steals. Those seven steals set a new season-high mark for Ballman. The team also got some help courtesy of Olivia Langton, who had 12 points.

St. Thomas More Academy's loss dropped their record down to 4-8. As for Wake Prep Academy, they are on a roll lately: they've won five of their last six contests, which provided a nice bump to their 6-2 record this season.

Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. St. Thomas More Academy and Cary Academy will compete for holiday cheer at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. St. Thomas More Academy is facing Cary Academy at the right time seeing as Cary Academy is stuck on a five-game losing streak. After both having extra time off, Wake Prep Academy and Raleigh Charter will shake off the cobwebs and face off against one another at 6:00 p.m. on January 8, 2025.