Southeast Stallions fall in overtime, finish Holiday Hoopla runner-up again

Southeast Alamance's boys' basketball team saw a promising Holiday Hoopla title bid end in overtime, falling 68-65 to Middle Creek in the tournament final Tuesday night. The Stallions led by as many as 14 in the second quarter and were ahead 32-21 at halftime, but were unable to hold an eight-point lead in the final 2 1/2 minutes of regulation.

James Kenan scored the first basket of overtime for Southeast, but Middle Creek answered with the next nine points. Southeast closed within 63-62 late in the extra period but never closed the gap. The loss leaves Southeast at 8-3 on the season and Middle Creek at 9-4.

Foul trouble played a pivotal role in Southeast's collapse; Donnie Fairley picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter, limiting his availability down the stretch. Davian Edwards led Southeast with 19 points. Kenan finished with 16 and Fairley added 13. Edwards, Kenan and Fairley were named to the all-tournament team for their performances across the event.

Southeast reached the final after dominant early-round wins, opening the tournament with an 89-41 victory over Carrboro and following that with a 70-61 win against Apex. In the opener against Carrboro, Fairley and JaKhai McKenzie scored 18 points apiece. Middle Creek reached the championship by defeating East Chapel Hill 63-40 and narrowly beating Green Hope 43-39; George Daniels scored 24 points in the tournament and was named Most Valuable Player.

The tournament's competitive results were shadowed by a somber moment elsewhere in the holiday slate. In the Ledford Holiday Tournament, Western Alamance forfeited the third-place game to North Davidson so team members could attend a rosary for Eamon Hipps, who died in an automobile accident. The decision underlines how grief and loss intersect with high school athletics, bringing teams and communities together away from the scoreboard.

For Alamance County, the twin stories of close athletic competition and communal mourning highlight broader public health and social concerns. Young athletes and their peers need access to timely grief counseling, mental health supports and safe-transportation education. High schools and local officials may find value in reviewing how athletic schedules, counseling services and emergency response resources are coordinated so teams can both compete and receive support when tragedy occurs.

As the regular season continues, Southeast moves forward with clear scoring leaders and a depth profile that will be tested in conference play. The community, meanwhile, remains unified in support of families and students affected by recent loss, a reminder that high school sports are as much about local ties and collective resilience as they are about wins and losses.