About the only thing the Carrboro boys basketball team did wrong in their win Friday night over Raleigh Charter School was try to dunk.

The Jaguars missed two straight slam tries in the third quarter, but it didn't matter. Carrboro still cruised to a 60-29 win over the Phoenix in Mid-State 2-A Conference action.

Playing Friday's game at neutral Cary Academy's gym, Carrboro put together its best defensive showing to date, said coach John Alcox. He was so pleased, he didn't even mind the two missed dunks.

"That's OK. They were just being aggressive, and we've come a long way in that area," Alcox said. "I want them to attack the basket at all times."

Carrboro is in its second season of high school athletics. Last year, the boys team went 4-19 under Alcox; this year, they've already matched that win total.

Just two years into his program, Alcox has some experience upon which to rely, with at least three seniors on the team. But, more important, he says, is the trust factor.

"We have some players that have more experience than others, so, trusting in one another has been very important," he said. "One against five is tough."

The Phoenix had to feel Friday as if it were one versus 10. The Jaguars swarmed them with defensive pressure the entire game. After leading by only two points after the first quarter, Carrboro went into that "aggressive" mode Alcox likes.

David Brooks led the way, scoring 14 of his 18 first-half points in the second quarter, as Raleigh Charter couldn't keep pace with its more athletic and aggressive opponent. The Jaguars outscored the Phoenix 27-10 in the period for a 35-16 halftime lead.

Carrboro didn't rest on its big lead at halftime. The Jaguars mounted a full-court press that held Raleigh scoreless in the period. Raleigh Charter made a mini-run in the fourth behind guard Charles Etoroma's 11 points, but Carrboro's lead by then was insurmountable.

Brooks led all scorers with 22 points, while teammate Denzel Ingram added 11 points.

With conference action now in full swing, Alcox expects each game to be a challenge.

"Mid-State is the toughest 2-A conference," he said. "Graham and Northwood are former state champions, so I expect all the remaining games to be difficult."

Bonitta Best can be reached at chnsports@nando.com

CARRBORO 60, RALEIGH CHARTER 29

Friday, At Cary Academy

CARRBORO: D. Brooks 20, D. Ingram 11, C. Jones 9, D. Bradley 7, D. Bryant 4, A. Knapp 4, N. Omar 3, C. Cones 2.

RAL. CHARTER: C. Etoroma 13, G. Robertson 9, P. Owens 5, M. Chambers 2

Halftime: Carrboro 50, Raleigh Charter 16.

Panthers upset

DURHAM -- Coming out of a 1-2 split against 4-A teams in last weekend's Spartan Challenge at Southern Durham, Orange suffered its third straight loss Friday, dropping a Mid-State 2-A game at DSA, 65-57.

DSA's Lewis Miller scored 21 points, while Sam Hoggs posted 10 points and 12 rebounds to lead Durham School of the Arts to its first win of the season.

Tremel Brown led Orange (2-3 Mid-State) with 15 points, and Jeremy Ruffin added 13.

The Panthers led 20-15 after the first period, and again at 52-41 with 8 minutes to play. But the Bulldogs overted three steals into transition baskets and used a 24-5 run down the stretch to stun Orange.

The Panthers started the year right last weekend by upset host Southern Durham, 50-45, in the Spartans' own invitational, but then fell to Jordan and Northern Durham.

DSA 65, ORANGE 57

Friday, at Durham School of the Arts

ORANGE: Jeremy Ruffin 13, D. Beck 6, Tremel Brown 15, J. Kenian 10, P. Pullian 4, D. Torain 2, D. Durham 8.

DSA: Bryan Miller 10, Lewis Miller 21, Brandan Shaw 4, Sam Hoggs 10, Eddie Douglas 10, Aaron Maye 11.

Halftime: Orange 35, DSA 33

Records: Durham School of the Arts 1-13, 1-4 Mid-State 2-A; Orange 5-7, 2-3 Mid-State.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Jaguars fall short

CARY -- Carrboro fell just short of getting a sweep of Raleigh Charter, falling 37-31 in the first game played Friday at Cary Academy's gym.

Carrboro trailed for most of the game, but pulled even with 5:02 remaining. However, the Phoenix scored consecutive baskets for a 31-27 lead and held on down the stretch.

Carrboro also couldn't contain Lindsay Creech, who scored Raleigh Charter's final six points, or center Paige Warmus, who blocked five shots.

Allyson Ropp led the Jaguars with 10 points.

RALEIGH CHARTER 37, CARRBORO 31

Friday, At Cary Academy

CARRBORO: A. Ropp 10, M. Gilmore 8, M. Cranfill 4, E. Holman 3, K. Fairholm 3, O. Lester 2, K. Gilmore 1.

RAL. CHARTER: L. Creech 14, M. Barrow 8, E. Karsten 8, P. Warmus 3, L. Peel 2, C. Warren 11.

Halftime: Raleigh Charter 26, Carrboro 21.

Orange decks DSA

DURHAM -- Orange had no trouble with DSA on Friday. Tireka Brooks had 18 points and six assists to lead Orange past DSA. Bianca Richburg recorded 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, while temmate Bria Berry-Holly added 14 points and nine rebounds to help the Panthers improve to 9-2.

DSA was led by Attiana O'Neal who scored a game-high 29 points and led DSA with five assists and six steals.

ORANGE 67, DSA 54

Friday, at Durham School of the Arts

ORANGE: Lauren Wood 3, Bria Berry-Holly 14, Bianca Richburg 16, Taylor Bertrum 6, Sha Torain 3, Chelsey Moore 7, Tireka Brooks 18

DSA: Attiana O'Neal 29, Destinee Locklear 13, Brittany Johnson 4, Lauren Kearns 2, Princess Bethea 6

Halftime: Orange 36, DSA 29

Records: DSA 4-10, Orange 9-2

Wildcats roll to 8-1

RALEIGH -- Hannah Elledge scored 18 points, while Keisha Evans recorded a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds in an 58-49 victory over Word of God.

The Wildcats improved to 8-1 with their second straight win at Cardinal Gibbons, which offered ECH's girls a pair of games to fill out their schedule. East had been schedule to play in the annual the annual Tiger Holiday Invitational Tournament, which was cancelled in December.

The Wildcats' only loss so far has been to Orange.

EAST CHAPEL HILL 58, WORD OF GOD 49

Friday, at Cardinal Gibbons, Raleigh

ECH: Hannah Elledge 18, Keisha Evans 15, Aileen Savino 13, Lisa Couper 5, Heather Graman 2, Danielle Graman 2, Ally Mack 2, Beni Mangel 1.

WORD OF GOD: Kesheria McNeil 26, Demeka Lewis 9, Kaylelyn Rochester 7, Zivi Emodi 2, Nadine Ealey 2, Raven Evans 2, Tenisha Morrison 1.cords: ECH 8-1, Word of God 3-2.