After starting the 2023 East Coast Basketball League season to a rough start on the road, the Panthers even out their record with 2 strong wins at home.

First facing off with the Rowan County Bulls, trailing the entire game, the Panthers pulled it out in the 4 quarter. Leading the way were two veterans, #15 Steven Williams with 24pts, 8rebs, 8assists, 3steals, 2blks and #32 John Bowen III adding 23pts, 6rebs, 3steals and 1blk.

It was a great team effort with 5 other players scoring in double figures, #52 Bryan Calloway 17pts, #1 Eric Freeman 10pts, #12 Chris George 10pts, #6 Phillippe Harris 17pts, and #13 Shyheid Petteway with 10pts.

The second rematch at Home was against the new and improved Winston-Salem Wolves, who are currently #1 in the Northeast Division. Although shorthanded, the Wolves put up a great fight led by #16 Mike Chambers with an impressive 38pts and #19 Trey Carrier with a double-double, 29pts and 11rebs.

Despite starting the game off with a huge 42-28 lead in the 1st quarter, the Wolves battled back out scoring the Panthers in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. However, the Panthers’ defense picked up and closed it out in the 4th holding the Wolves to just 20 points, while scoring 28.

This charge was led by Panthers’ 6th man, #52 Bryan Calloway, coming off a torn achilles that cut his season short in 2022, he scored 28pts, picked up 6steals while assisting on 4 of the Panthers 45 made baskets.

With another great team effort, 5 players scored in double figures. #3 Rasheed Brown 11pts, #1 Eric Freeman 21pts, #6 Phillippe Harris 16pts, #13 Shyheid Petteway 10pts, and #15 Steven Williams 21pts. #17 Xavier Bethea would tie his season high adding another 8 assists in back-to-back games with 4 steals.

The Panthers are traveling this Saturday to play against the 2023 ECBL defending champions, the Petersburg Cavaliers, who are off to a great start leading the Northern Conference 3-0. The game will be played at Petersburg High School at 5pm.