It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It’s also been said, a win is a win. Both varsity basketball teams stopped four game losing streaks with wins over Holtville on Friday. Although ACA enjoyed putting a notch in the win column, the game film will not be hanging in the Louvre anytime soon.
Girls (6-8)
The ACA defense held Holtville scoreless in the first quarter as the Bulldogs managed only eight shots from the field and committed eight turnovers. Adalyn Newkirk started the scoring for the Eagles with a three followed by two-point baskets from Campbell Hammett, Sam Burgess, and Newkirk. The Eagles led 9-0 after a period and it looked like smooth sailing for the rest of the night. However, looks can be deceiving and ACA fell into an offensive funk over the next two quarters. ACA went 1 for 13 from the floor in the second quarter as Piper Powers made the lone field goal. Luckily, the home team’s offense was not much better, but the lead was cut to five points as Alabama Christian led 12-7 at the break.
Adalyn Newkirk made a shot on the Eagle’s second possession of the third quarter and then the team fell into another long scoring drought. ACA’s next point came on a free throw from Addison Smith with 1:51 left in the period for a 15-13 lead. After two offensive rebounds on their next possession, Holtville tied the game. To ACA’s credit, the team responded and closed the third with four points for a 19-15 lead. A three-ball by Newkirk to start the fourth stretched the lead to 22-15. Both offenses finally found the range in the fourth and the teams played evenly the remainder of the game. The lead stayed between six and twelve points the rest of the way. ACA outscored the home team 14-9 in the final quarter for the 33-24 victory.
Adalyn Newkirk was the game’s leading with 13 points and nine rebounds. Campbell Hammett had six points, eight rebounds, and four steals while Addison Smith finished with six points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Boys (6-10)
The boys never trailed against Holtville as they built an early 8-2 lead with just over two minutes to go in the first. Four players, AJ Shannon, Mason Henry, Levi Summers, and Christian Snipes scored in the run in a balanced attack. ACA led 11-6 after a quarter. The lead ballooned to 19-6 just two minutes into the second as Ethan Capps stole the ball like a bandit and laid it in for a 13-point lead. The Bulldogs fought back with an 11-3 run to cut the lead to five points late in the half. The Eagles led by nine at the half, 27-18.
The home team came out of the locker room ready to go and scored the first seven points of the half to cut the lead to two points. However, back to back threes by Mason Henry and Christian Snipes seem to take the wind out of Holtville’s sails as they never made another serious threat to the lead. ACA stretched the lead to 43-30 by the end of three. Both offenses cooled off in the fourth, but ACA did enough to secure the 49-41 win.
Christian Snipes led the offense with 13 points along with seven rebounds. Levi Summers finished with eight points and a team-best twelve rebounds. Noah Shack had six points and three rebounds while Mason Henry, Erthan Capps, and Cole Jordan each chipped in five points.