In Siler City

Walden scores 28 in Jet win over Bears

Jets win season opener in OT

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   Caleel Waden came off the bench to pour in 28 points – including 10 during a four-minute extra session – as Jordan-Matthews held off a determined challenge by arch-rival Chatham Central in the season-opener for both teams to claim a foul-plagued 77-71 overtime triumph in non-conference hoops action Monday night on John Phillips Court.

   Playing in front of a raucous overflow crowd, J-M beat the Bears for the 20th time in their last 23 meetings, with a total of 52 infractions whistled in the contest. Chatham Central lost three starters to fouls, while the Jets concluded the game with five players having four fouls apiece.

   Camden Fuquay contributed 19 points and Xavier Woods notched 15 for the victors, who shot 24-of-53 (45%) from the floor while turning the ball over 16 times.

   Michael Moore pumped in 28 points, Jamieon Degraffenreaidt added 10 while Lucas Skertich and Lofton Dodson finished with nine each for the Bears. Chatham Central connected on 24-of-57 (42%) of its field goal attempts and commanded a 43-27 rebounding advantage while committing 22 turnovers.

   Led by five points from Degraffenreaidt, the Bears raced out to a 10-2 lead in the first three minutes of play before Jordan-Matthews rallied to pull within 13-11 by the end of the initial period.

   After Chatham Central rebuilt its advantage to 19-13 following a Nik Wilson free throw with 5:24 left in the second quarter, J-M sliced the gap to 19-18 when Woods was awarded a basket on a goaltending call with 2:02 to go in the first half.
Back-to-back baseline jumpers by Skertich and Moore plus a conventional three-point play by Wilson sandwiched around a fast break layup by the Jets’ Caleb Campbell then allowed the Bears to expand their lead to 26-20 at intermission.

   Chatham Central managed to stretch its advantage to 32-24 on Dodson’s three-pointer from beyond the top of the key with 5:45 remaining in the third stanza before Jordan-Matthews battled back to seize its first lead of the evening at 37-36 following a pair of Fuquay foul shots with 2:09 left in the period.

   After the Bears went back up 41-39 with 1:01 to go in the third quarter, Chandler Matthews and Seth Moore sank consecutive treys over the final 43 seconds of the frame to send J-M in front by four heading into the fourth period.

   The Jets proceeded to increase their advantage to 59-50 following Waden’s bank shot in the lane with 3:43 remaining in regulation play prior to Chatham Central mounting a furious comeback that concluded with Michael Moore draining a three-pointer from the left wing with 10.4 seconds showing on the clock to pull the Bears even at 63-all.

   After a Jordan-Matthews turnover seconds later, the visitors from Bear Creek had one last opportunity to pull out a win in regulation, but Michael Moore’s three-point heave from beyond half-court rimmed out of the basket at the buzzer, forcing the extra four-minute session.

   Following a Phillip Gaines charity toss that gave Chatham Central its last lead at 66-65 with 2:56 left in overtime, Waden swished a pair of free throws six seconds later to put J-M in front for good before the Jets secured the victory from the foul line over the final two minutes.


CC 13 13 15 22 8 – 71
J-M 11 9 25 18 14 – 77
Chatham Central (0-1) – Degraffenreaidt 4 1-2 10 Wilson 3 2-3 8 Cheek 1 3-4 5 MMoore 9 7-12 28 Skertich 4 1-2 9 Dodson 3 1-2 9 CarFuquay 0 0- 0 0 Gaines 0 1-2 1 Lagenor 0 1-2 1. Totals 24 17-29 71.
Jordan-Matthews (1-0) – CamFuquay 4 10-15 19 Matthews 2 0-0 6 Teague 0 0-2 0 Campbell 2 0-0 4 SMoore 1 0-1 3 Waden 9 10-15 28 TMoore 0 0-0 0 Woods 6 3-6 15 Causey 0 2-2 2. Totals 24 25-41 77.
Halftime-Chatham Central, 26-20. Three-point goals-Chatham Central 6-19 (MMoore 3-7, Dodson 2-4, Degraffenreaidt 1-5, CarFuquay 0-1, Skertich 0-2); Jordan-Matthews 4-24 (Matthews 2-6, CamFuquay 1-2, SMoore 1-5, Woods 0-1, Campbell 0-1, Teague 0-1, Waden 0-2, Causey 0-6). Fouled out-Wilson, Degraffenreaidt, Cheek, Rebounds-Chatham Central 43 (Dodson 11); Jordan-Matthews 27 (Woods 7). Turnovers-Chatham Central 22; Jordan-Matthews 16. Total fouls-Chatham Central 28; Jordan-Matthews 24.

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