The Siler City Jordan-Matthews boys fell from the ranks of the undefeated Monday night when Eastern Randolph took a 53-48 Mid-State 2A Conference victory. The Jets had won 13 straight before losing the road game.

The Jets played without leading scorer Llamar Snipes (22 points per game), who went down with a knee injury in the first period.

“We’ve faced adversity all season,” Jets coach P.J. Lowman said. “We’ve got 12 players and I think we’ve dressed all 12 for one game this season. To have the kind of record that we have with as much adversity as we’ve had is amazing.”

Two years ago the Jets finished 25-5 and were led by James Milligan, who averaged about 28 points per game. Milligan was among five senior starters and last year was a learning experience for Snipes and 6-foot-4, 315-pound Derek Hamilton, who helped the club to a 16-10 record.

Snipes and Hamilton have been a strong combination this season. Hamilton averages more than 10 rebounds and 10 points per game.

“Obviously when your post player weighs 315 pounds, you’re not going to play at a fast pace,” Lowman said. “But Derek is really effective. He’s tough to handle inside. He’s had a couple of games with 20 rebounds or more.”

Lowman hopes to get Snipes back and believes the team can have an outstanding season.

“The league is really tough,” he said. “But we’ve played well.”

The Jordan-Mathews girls defeated Eastern Randolph 55-36 to climb to 14-0.

“There is a lot of excitement around the basketball programs,” said Jordan-Matthews athletics director Sandy Morris. “We’ve had some really nice crowds.”

Gilman to Bridgewater: Terry Gilman, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound defensive end and tight end at Garner, has signed with Bridgewater College near Harrisonburg, Va., and will enroll this spring.

“Bridgewater had everything that I was looking for academically,” Gilman said. “It has a very good program and I think I can contribute there.”

Gilman started at offensive tackle in Garner’s 2011 march to the NCHSAA Class 4AA finals and moved to tight end this season. He also played defensive end.

“He developed into one of the best tight ends we’ve ever had,” Garner coach Nelson Smith said. “He was a three-year varsity player for us and did an outstanding job.”

National leaders: Layla White of Cary and Wesley Frazier of Ravenscroft are the national high school leaders in the girls’ indoor 500 meters and in the mile, respectively, while Cary’s Bakri Abushouk leads the nation in the high school boys’ mile.

Frazier posted the nation’s fastest 1,500-meters (4:30.4) en route to a nation’s best 4:48.33 in the 1,600. Frazier also has the No. 2 time in two miles (10:30.63). Her younger sister Ryen is No. 3 in the two mile (10:30.63).

Abushouk ran a national best 3:57.4 in the 1,500 en route to his nation’s best 4:14.18 in the mile.

White nipped Wilson Fike’s Maya Evans in the N.C. High School Open (1:15.42 to 1:15.73) in the 500 with the nation’s best time this year.

The Wakefield 4x400 meters relay currently is No. 2 (3:57.49).

East Chapel Hill’s Jon Beyle is No. 2 in the shot put (61 feet, 6.75 inches).

Referee dies: A generation of area high school football and basketball players grew up with Cary’s Leo Pegram officiating their games. Pegram officiated in the N.C. High School Athletic Association for 43 years and was one of the best-liked officials in the area.

Pegram, 80, died on Monday.

Pegram always was willing to explain a call to coaches, but he wasn’t there to debate the virtues of the decision. He would spot the ball in football and expect teams to be ready to play.

He knew the rules, he hustled and he had great judgment. That’s about the ultimate praise for an official.

The games were played for the kids, not for the officials.

Stevens: 919-829-8910