Looking to collect its second consecutive league title, the South Whidbey High School boys basketball season began North South Conference play with a 63-53 win over visiting Cedar Park Christian Tuesday, Dec. 11.

The win was the third straight for the Falcons (1-0, 4-3), who are now off until a non-league game at Chimacum (0-4) at 6:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21. That game is followed by the final two non-league games: La Conner (1-4) visits at 6:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, and Concrete (0-3) comes to town the next afternoon at 2:30.

A double-double the hard way by Kody Newman (22 points and an outstanding 10 assists) and 26 points from Carson Wrightson led the Falcons to the win over Cedar Park Christian.

Trenton Lynch and Dawson Drews each scored 5 points in the first period for Cedar Park Christian, offsetting 8 points from Wrightson, as the Eagles took a 15-14 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

The Falcons outscored CPC 35-25 in the middle two periods, which turned out to be the difference in the game.

In the second quarter, Newman scored 8 points and Wrightson 7 and the Falcons limited the Eagles to 9, giving South Whidbey a 29-24 lead.

Newman and Wrightson combined for all but 2 of the Falcons’ first-half points.

Wrightson pumped in 8 points in the third quarter, and Newman, Dexter Jokinen and Sterling Patton all drilled three-pointers, helping South Whidbey push its lead to 10, 39-29, heading into the final period.

Both teams scored 14 points in the fourth quarter. Newman tossed in 7 and Nick Young hit a three-ball to help thwart any Eagle comeback.

Patton finished with 5 points, Young 3, Jokinen 3, Kole Nelson 2 and Levi Buck 2.

Wrightson collected six rebounds, Newman five and Buck four; Wrightson added three assists.

Wrightson connected on 11 of 13 shots, helping the Falcons shoot an outstanding 63 percent (22-for-35) for the game, countering a strong shooting night for the Eagles (51 percent; 21-for-41).

South Whidbey held a big advantage at the foul line, outscoring Cedar Park Christian by 13 points. The Eagles committed 13 fouls, leading to 19 free throws. The Falcons made 15; Newman was 11-for-12.

South Whidbey committed only seven fouls, and CPC shot only five free throws, making two.

Luke Allen scored 14 points to lead the Eagles (0-1, 0-5).