The Wildcats attacked from the opening tip with full-court pressure, which disrupted Apex’s offense and forced turnovers that led to some easy buckets. Millbrook led 16-8 after the first quarter and never looked back.

“We had some turnovers, but I don’t think they were as big a deal as our inability to score,” Cougars coach Dave Neal said. “We just couldn’t score the ball. Thirty-nine points is pathetic. We just couldn’t get our playmakers open looks. Millbrook outplayed us on both ends of the court.”

Wildcats coach Scott McInnes chalked it up to first game jitters on Apex’s part and downplayed his team’s culpability in the fast start. Millbrook (1-1) opened its season with a 71-64 loss Tuesday at Knightdale, which McInnes saw as a great advantage.

“This was their opening game,” McInnes said. “We threw the ball away a lot in our first game too. This game was the opposite of our first game. Next time they see this kind of defensive pressure I would expect them to handle it easily.”

McInnes was more impressed with the way his team functioned offensively.

“We were patient with the basketball,” he said. “We didn’t settle for the first shot every time down the court. That was the key for us on offense.”

For Apex (0-1), it was a different story.

The Cougars could never quite get going on offense and failed to cut into the Wildcats’ lead. Only center Weston Murphy, who finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, reached double figures, but even he was limited due to foul trouble. After two early whistles in his direction, he picked up three more fouls in the second half and had to leave the game with more than two minutes remaining.

“Murphy’s foul situation definitely helped,” McInnes said. “You have to limit his touches somehow or he’ll kill you. If he catches the ball underneath it’s over with.”

Neal said fouls had plagued Murphy in the past but admitted, this early in the season he couldn’t expect any more out of his big man.

“He played as many minutes as he could,” Neal said. “When he came out of the game he was exhausted. And when he’s gassed he can’t make plays. As the season goes along the conditioning should get better.”

Next up for Apex is Tri-Nine opponent Lee County on Tuesday. And after his squad’s performance on opening night, Neal was none too excited about having to play a conference game so early in the season.

“It’s a little scary to go into the conference after the way we played,” he said. “I’m disappointed with our effort. We’re just not going to win any games scoring just 39 points. We’ve got to get a lot better.”