Lady Eagles Defeat Tallassee on the Road

It was a typical night of basket-brawl at the Tallassee gym Friday night. The rough play was magnified by the officials who allowed very rough play in both games. The girls managed to pull out a victory against the Tigers, but the boys dropped a close one.

Even with the lack of calls, the Lady Eagles (4-3) found early foul trouble as Katelyn Sutton had two fouls just 30 seconds into the game. Izzy Warrick ran the point while Sutton had to go to the bench. Jaide Newkirk scored six of the team’s twelve points in the first as ACA held a 10-2 lead with about three minutes left. The two teams traded baskets and Alabama Christian led 12-5 after one. The second period began with both opponents once again trading scores as the margin remained seven points with five minutes left in the half. Sutton started a 7-0 run with a steal and a score followed by two Newkirk scores sandwiched around a Warrick free throw. The Lady Eagles led 24-10 with 30 seconds left in the quarter. Tallassee managed three points in the final half minute to cut the lead to eleven points at the break.

Although ACA was unable to put Tallassee away, the closest the game got in the second half was five points. A Campbell Hammett three early in the third gave ACA its biggest lead at 30-17. Tallassee answered with seven straight points to cut the margin to six. Alabama Christian led 36-29 after three. Katelyn Sutton and Hammett opened the final quarter with scores to push ACA’s lead back to 41-29, but, once again, the Tigers responded with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 41-36. In the run by Tallassee, both Sutton and Jaide Newkirk fouled out. Newkirk fouled out with 2:38 left in the game and Coach Cantrell counted on Izzy Warrick and Hammett to carry the offensive load. Although ACA did not make another field goal the rest of the game, Hammett sank five huge free throws down the stretch to help preserve the win. The Tigers were 0 for 4 in the same time to help Alabama Christian to a 46-40 victory.

Campbell Hammett led all scorers with 18 points and added seven rebounds. Jaide Newkirk had a double-double in the first half and finished with 12 points and career highs in rebounds (19) and blocks (5). Katelyn Sutton had six points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals while Izzy Warrick had five points, nine rebounds, four steals, and four assists.

The boys game got off to a strange start as Tallassee went to the free throw line due to an administrative technical violation against ACA (3-4). The home team hit one of two and led before the tipoff. Neither team could find the basket for a long stretch of the first period. Tallassee hit a second free throw for a 2-0 lead with 3:59 left. The first score from the field was a three from Christian Snipes to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead with 3:44 left in the quarter. The two teams combined to miss their first eleven shots from the field. Once the seal was broken the flow of the game was much better as Tallassee ended the quarter with a three for a 10-9 lead after one. The second quarter opened with back to back bombs by Snipes and Connor Mark to give ACA a 15-10 lead. The Eagles never trailed the rest of the half and took a 25-20 advantage into the intermission.

The offense began to sputter in the second half, but the game remained tight. The Tigers scored the first seven points of the half to take the lead three minutes into the third. Tyree Saadiq completed a three point play for ACA’s first points to regain the lead with 2:38 left in the quarter. The final two minutes saw both teams trade baskets as Alabama Christian led 33-32 heading into the fourth. Despite just scoring eight points in the period the Eagles maintained the slimmest of leads. ACA was held to three made field goals in the fourth and Tallassee was able to pull away late for the 47-40 victory.

Christian Snipes led the team with 18 points and added four rebounds. Tyree Saadiq finished with nine points, seven rebounds, and five steals while Connor Mark had five points.

Alabama Christian will be back at home on Tuesday, December 12th as they host Elmore County.

ACA Overwhelms LAMP on the Hardwood

Alabama Christian enjoyed a fun night at the gym with two convincing victories over LAMP. On the boys side, the last four games against LAMP have been close with the average difference being less than four points per game. However, Tuesday night, ACA’s 63-32 win over the Golden Tigers was the largest margin of victory (31 points) in the 54-game history of the series. Similarly, the Lady Eagles ran roughshod over LAMP, 48-10, with their largest margin of victory since 2009. The ten points given up by the Eagles tied for the eighth fewest in a game in school history.

The boys game could not have started any better for the home team as Mac Moorer was fouled just three seconds into the action and sank two free throws to start the festivities. Things continued to go the way of ACA (4-3) as five different players hit threes in the first period as the team connected on six of its first eight attempts from long distance. The defense was spectacular as well and LAMP had no answer for the energy and intensity brought by Alabama Christian. LAMP shot 1 for 12 in the quarter and committed four turnovers as ACA raced to a 26-3 lead after one. The lead would never be under twenty for the rest of the night. Jayden Jones opened the second with a steal and a bucket to further dampen the spirits of the opponent. Sam Davidson closed the quarter with the team’s eighth three of the half for a 41-14 lead. Christian Snipes (11) and Jones (8) led the scoring in the half while Darius Gardner shut down the LAMP big man with stellar defensive play.

The third quarter was evenly played as LAMP actually outscored the Eagles by two points. ACA slowed the pace in the second half and emptied the bench with the big lead. With about four minutes left in the game, ACA hit the magic thirty point lead and the clock ran continuously from that point on. The defense picked back up in the fourth as the Tigers only scored five points in the 63-32 final.

Christian Snipes led the team in scoring off the bench with 13 points. Jayden Jones had 11 points with five rebounds while Connor Mark also had 11 points with four boards. Tyree Saadiq’s seven assists led the team as did Darius Gardner’s four blocks.

Defense was the name of the game for the Lady Eagles as well. ACA (3-3) suffocated LAMP in the first period as the Tigers scored just two points and had 14 turnovers. Jaide Newkirk got off to a quick start with half of the team’s points in the quarter as ACA led 12-2 after one. The lead stayed around ten points in the second quarter until the Eagles scored the last seven points of the half with a little less than two minutes left to take a 25-8 lead into the locker room. Newkirk, Izzy Warrick, and Katelyn Sutton each scored in the seven point run.

LAMP did not make a single field goal in the second half as the ACA defense continued to frustrate them even in the half court. Late in the third quarter as Jaide Newkirk came out to get some rest, Coach Cantrell specifically had Annabelle Pugh guard the LAMP post player which is a testament to her toughness and grit on the floor.. One of the shortest players on the court gave the bigger, taller player fits. With a 42-10 lead after three quarters, the fourth flew by. Only six points were scored in the quarter, all by ACA.

Izzy Warrick tied the school record with nine steals in the game and was the team’s leading scorer with 20 points to go along with three assists. Jaide Newkirk recorded another double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds with four steals and three blocks. Annabelle Pugh had six rebounds and five steals on the night.

ACA travels to Tallassee on Friday for its next contest.

ACA Varsity Basketball Sweeps Ellwood Christian

Alabama Christian hosted Ellwood Christian from Selma Friday night and both teams posted impressive wins. Both offenses produced their highest point totals of the season and were able to substitute freely in the second half.

In the girls game, it took a little while for the offense to get rolling as the game remained relatively close through the first period. The ACA (2-3) pressure harassed Ellwood early and caused eight turnovers by the visitors in the first. Annabelle Pugh and Jaide Newkirk had four of the team’s six steals in the quarter to help spur a 14-8 advantage. Campbell Hammett opened the second with a steal and score and then found Izzy Warrick for a score for a quick four points in thirty seconds. Ellwood responded and scored consecutive baskets to cut the lead to 18-12 with just over six minutes left in the half. After a timeout, Alabama Christian scored the next seventeen points over three minutes to bust the game open. Jaide Newkirk led the attack with ten points during the run and finished with 18 points in the first half. A Katelyn Sutton bucket late in the period gave ACA a 41-19 headed into the half.

The Lady Eagles scored the first eight points of the second half to build a thirty point cushion. The lead extended to thirty-five by the end of the quarter as the bench logged major minutes. Sam Burgess, who made her varsity debut on Tuesday, scored the first point of her varsity career with a free throw with under a minute left in the third and would add a three pointer in the final period. With a thirty point lead, the fourth quarter moved quickly as the clock ran continuously. Another freshman, Madison Williams scored the first points of her career with a trey to close out the scoring on the night. The final was a resounding 75-31 victory.

Jaide Newkirk led all scorers with 29 points with 11 rebounds and three steals. The performance was Newkirk’s third double-double of the season. Kately Sutton filled the stat sheet with 20 points, five rebounds, five steals, and three assists. Izzy Warrick was the third player to hit double digits with ten points and added five rebounds, five steals, and four assists.

After splitting two nail biters earlier in the week, ACA (3-3) didn’t mind a bit of a breather on Friday night. Like the girls, the boys took a while to click early as they led just 5-4 with three minutes left in the quarter. The Eagles scored the last nine points in the first to take a 14-4 lead into the second quarter. After giving up the first points of the second quarter, ACA ran off eleven consecutive points to extend the lead to 25-7. Jayden Jones and Darius Gardner both scored twice in the stretch to lead the offense. The lead continued to build through the remainder of the half as ACA led 39-15 at the break. Gardner (8) and Tyree Saadiq (7) led the offense through the first two quarters.

The offense got going in the third as the team shot 52.9% (9 for 17) from the field in the quarter. Five of the nine makes were assisted as the ball moved crisply for the Eagles. Tyree Saadiq led the charge with six points in the period on two made threes. The lead ballooned to 43 points with the 61-18 margin at the end of the third. The clock ran in the fourth quarter with the big lead. TJ Merritt and Kaiden Green both scored off the bench in the final eight minutes as the game ended with a 69-24 final score.

Ten different Eagles scored on the night and were led by Tyree Saadiq with 13 points and five assists and Jayden Jones with 10 points. Three players, Darius Gardner, Connor Mark, and Christian Snipes, each scored nine points. For the third straight game Gardner led the team in rebounds with eight and Mark had a team high three steals.

Alabama Christian next plays at home against LAMP on Tuesday, December 5th.

ACA Picks Up First Win of the Year at Thorsby

The Lady Eagles (1-3) notched their first victory of the season with a 56-39 triumph at Thorsby. The seventeen-point final margin was not indicative of how close the contest really was as the game was tied with just over six minutes left. ACA closed the deal with a 19-2 run to pull away late.

In the first period, the Eagles tried the whack-a-mole method of defense as they committed eleven fouls in the quarter and put Thorsby in the bonus just two minutes in. The Rebels took advantage and scored nine of their twelve points from the line in the first. Izzy Warrick scored seven in the first eight minutes to give ACA a 15-12 lead headed to the second. Every time it looked as if Alabama Christian was going to make a run, the home team bounced back and kept the game close for the remainder of the first half. Katelyn Sutton hit two free throws with 3:33 left in the quarter to give ACA a six-point lead, its biggest of the half. Thorsby cut the lead to three, 23-20, but Jaide Newkirk hit three of four free throws in the final thirty-seven seconds to give ACA a 26-22 lead at the break.

Thorsby managed to tie the game 28-28 midway through the third, but ACA countered with a 9-4 run to close the quarter led by Jaide Newkirk’s five points during the stretch. The Lady Rebels scored the first five points of the final stanza and tied the contest 37-37 with just over six minutes to play. Katelyn Sutton broke the tie with a long three that Thorsby dared her to take and she kindly obliged. Izzy Warrick scored on the next two possessions with a three and a theft and a bucket to stretch the lead to eight points. From that point the defensive pressure intensified and Thorsby was held to just three shots attempted the rest of the way.

The scoring duties were handled by a trio of players as Jaide Newkirk, Izzy Warrick, and Katelyn Sutton scored 54 of the team’s 56 points. Newkirk scored 20 and equaled her career best with 18 rebounds along with three assists and three steals. Warrick finished with 20 as well with five rebounds and five steals. Sutton had 14 points with five rebounds, five assists, and four steals.

In the nightcap, the boys team lost a close one to Thorsby, 47-49. The game was a back and forth affair as the lead changed hands eight times. After falling behind 3-10 in the first period, ACA (1-3) scored the next eight points, four by Jayden Jones, to take its first lead of the night. The first ended with the Rebels holding a one-point lead. Sam Davidson hit threes on consecutive possessions to help retake the lead and Jones’ bucket two minutes into the second period gave ACA a 20-15 lead. After another basket, the first of two long scoring droughts haunted the Eagle offense. The visitors from Montgomery did not score over the final five minutes of the half and Thorsby took advantage to build a 27-22 lead at the half.

Jayden Jones and Tyree Saadiq combined to score the first six points of the second half to vault ACA back into the lead two minutes into the quarter. Although the Rebels retook the lead, Sam Davidson closed the period with a trey for a 36-35 lead headed into the fourth. Unfortunately, the second shooting dry spell occurred in the final quarter as ACA did not score in the first six minutes of the period. Again, Thorsby took advantage and built its biggest lead of the night, 48-36, and looked poised to run away with it. Finally, the Eagle offense was resuscitated and the visitors made a furious effort to come back. Christian Snipes and Connor Mark hit back to back baskets to cut the lead to 41-48 and force a timeout with 1:26 left. After a Mark steal, Saadiq was fouled after a made bucket and his free throw cut the lead to 44-48 with 1:03 left. Thorsby missed a pair of free throws, but Sam Davisdon hit all three of his, after being fouled, to cut the lead to one with 27.1 seconds left. The Rebels connected on one of two freebies on their next trip and ACA got a good look at a game-winning three, but could not connect as Thorsby held on for the 49-47 win.

Sam Davidson led the offense with 12 points and added four rebounds. Tyree Saadiq had 11 points with seven rebounds and four assists while Christian Snipes finished with nine points and six boards. Darrius Gardner led the team with nine rebounds.

Alabama Christian Opens Season in Holiday Tournament

Both boys and girls teams opened the season in the Coach Larry Chapman Foundation Tip Off Tournament during the week of Thanksgiving. Coach Jake Mitchell picked up his first win as the ACA head coach in a victory over Notasulga.

Boys tournament - JAG (Jeff Davis)

The boys team opened the season under new coach Jake Mitchell with a match up against JAG High School (more commonly known as Jeff Davis). The offense never got on track in the 33-62 loss to JAG. ACA committed 22 turnovers which led to 18 less shots attempted than their opponent. JAG dominated down low as they out rebounded ACA 36-21 and outscored them 26-10 in the paint.

Connor Mark led the team with seven points and three steals. A pair of Eagles, Sam Davidson and Christian Snipes, both contributed six points on the afternoon. Snipes and Jayden Jones led the team with four rebounds each.

PCA

Day two saw the Eagles play against PCA. ACA led 13-10 at the end of the first, but were outscored 14-4 in the second to trail 24-17 at the half. The game was relatively even in the second half and the Panthers won by ten, 54-44.

Tyree Saadiq led the team in scoring with 14 points with five rebounds, five steals, and four assists. Sam Davidson added 11 points with three rebounds. Jayden Jones and Mac Moorer each contributed six points. Darius Gardner led the team with seven rebounds and four blocks.

Notasulga

The final game of the week saw ACA win their first of the year with a 60-39 defeat of Notasulga. The Eagles started quick and built a 17-5 lead at the end of the first period. Jayden Jones led the way with six points as six different Eagles scored in the quarter. Notasulga scored the first five points of the second, but Alabama Christian rebounded with a 10-2 run to extend the lead to 27-12 and led by twelve at the break. The third period was even, but ACA used a 13-2 run in the fourth to extend the lead to twenty-one points.

Connor Mark led the team with 15 points with four rebounds and four steals. Jayden Jones was one rebound short of a double-double as he finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and four steals. Mac Moorer got hot late and added 10 points with three rebounds.

Girls tournament - Brew Tech

ACA began the season against a tough Brew Tech squad that reached the Final Four in Class 5A last year. Alabama Christian took the Rams to overtime before dropping the contest, 40-44. The game was tight throughout as Brew Tech held a 24-18 lead at the break. The Eagles held their opponent to just two points in the third period to cut the lead to two heading into the fourth. ACA scored the final seven points of regulation to force the extra session despite losing Katelyn Sutton with 2:40 left due to five fouls. The Rams outscored ACA 7-3 in the OT period to secure the win.

Jaide Newkirk recorded the first double-doubles of the season with a team leading 12 points and 16 rebounds. Izzy Warrick also reached double figures with 11 points and five rebounds. Campbell Hammett finished with nine points and six boards while Katelyn Sutton added eight points, seven steals, four rebounds, and three assists.

MA

The Lady Eagles looked to rebound against the host school on Tuesday, but looked out of sync as MA built a 20-9 lead late in the second period. ACA scored the last five points of the half to cut the lead to six points at the break. Although the contest remained close through the second half, Alabama Christian dropped another four point decision, 38-42.

Izzy Warrick led all scorers with 19 points and five steals. Jaide Newkirk added 13 points with eight boards and four steals. Katelyn Sutton had a team best five assists.

Catholic

ACA finished the tournament with a match up against longtime opponent, Catholic. Both of the teams came out hot and combined for 46 points in the first period. The Knights led 26-20 heading into the second quarter. Catholic doubled the lead in the period and took a 41-29 lead into the halftime. The third quarter belonged to Catholic who used a 19-0 run to build a thirty point bulge. The game ended with a Catholic victory, 68-41.

A trio of players, Izzy Warrick, Campbell Hammett, and Katelyn Sutton, each scored nine points to lead the team. Right behind them was Jaide Newkirk with eight points. Newkirk lead the team with five rebounds.

Rachel Rine Makes Lasting Impact on Program in Just Two Years

Rachel Rine came to Alabama Christian last year as a junior and immediately stepped in as a major contributor to the team. As a junior, Rine led the team in scoring as well as made three-pointers, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage. This year, as the team’s only senior, she continued to play a pivotal role on the team as she finished second on the team in scoring and led the team in assists and free throw percentage.

In only two seasons, Rine’s name is all over the ACA record book. She finished her career with 566 points which rank 18th all-time. Her point total is the second most in school history for any player who played just two years at Alabama Christian. Rine’s 11.6 points per game average ranks fifth best all-time and her 58 made threes rank 14th on the career list. She ranks ninth in free throw makes and 19th in free throw attempts and her 68.8 free throw percentage is fifth best in program history. Despite her short time at the school, Rachel Rine will be remembered for her play on the court for years to come.

ACA 2022-23 Season Recap

Coach Spenser Cantrell’s first year brought great improvement to the girl’s program as the squad doubled the number of wins from last season. The Lady Eagles swept MA for the first time since 2009, in Area play. ACA finished 12-14 on the season and is poised to improve next year as the team will only lose one to graduation. Although senior Rachel Rine was a primary option for the offense this year, the other four starters are ready to carry the extra offensive responsibility into next season. 

A trio of sophomores, Jaide Newkirk, Izzy Warrick, and Katelyn Sutton are already making their mark on the program as each player has scored at least 400 points in their careers and ranks in the Top 40 in points scored in school history. Newkirk ranks 21st with 547 points and ranks seventh in career free throws attempted and eighth in career free throws made. Her 87 free throws made this season are the tenth most in program history. Warrick ranks 29th with 486 career points. Sutton ranks 38th with 423 career points and ranks ninth in career three-pointers made.

This year’s team leaders are:

Points per game: Jaide Newkirk (12.3), Rachel Rine (11.8), Katelyn Sutton (8.4)

Rebounds: Jaide Newkirk (8.2), Rachel Rine (5.5), Izzy Warrick (5.2)

Assists: Rachel Rine (3.2), Katelyn Sutton (2.9), Izzy Warrick (1.0)

Steals: Kately Sutton (3.0), Izzy Warrick (2.3), Rachel Rine (2.0)

Blocks: Jaide Newkirk (1.3), Campbell Hammett (0.4), Izzy Warrick (0.3)

Field goal percentage: Jaide Newkirk (42.3%), Rachel Rine (35.6%), Campbell Hammett (31.2%)

3-point field goal percentage: Kately Sutton (19.7%), Rachel Rine (19.6%), Izzy Warrick (19.5%)

Free throw percentage: Rachel Rine (68.8%), Katelyn Sutton (59.3%), Jaide Newkirk (55.1%)

ACA Cruises to an Easy Victory Over Notasulga

For the second time this week, the Lady Eagles won easily as they defeated Notasulga 69-15, Thursday night. Alabama Christian led 15-1 after a quarter and the outcome was never in doubt. Katelyn Sutton scored seven of the team’s first eleven points to give the Eagles an 11-0 lead with 3:15 left in the period. After a Blue Devil free throw, Jaide Newkirk and Rachel Rine scored to give ACA the fourteen-point lead after one. Newkirk and Sutton teamed up in the second quarter to score 19 of the team’s 24 points to help stretch the lead to 39-10 at the half.

The officials seemed determined to get ACA out of the press as they called three fouls in forty-seven seconds against the Eagles. Fortunately, it did not help Notasulga as they missed all four free throw attempts. The balled move well in the third as four of the seven made field goals were assisted. Maddie Traywick closed the period with back-to-back scores to build a 57-12 lead for the visitors. The fourth moved quickly with a running clock, but the team played hard all the way through. Izzy Warrick was all over the place as she dominated the boards and dove for any loose balls in her vicinity. She even carried one of the opponents as she was fouled when one of the Notasulga players jumped on her back. The sophomore finished the scoring with two free throws in the fifty-four-point lopsided triumph.

Katelyn Sutton led the Eagles and outscored the opponent with 24 points and contributed seven assists, six steals and five rebounds to the team. Jaide Newkirk and Izzy Warrick both had double-doubles as Newkirk finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds and Warrick had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lady Eagles close the regular season Friday night against Pike Liberal.

Alabama Christian Snaps Long Losing Streak on Senior Night

ACA began the final week of the regular season with victories. Both teams celebrated Senior Night with dominating wins over Ellwood Christian from Selma.

Boys

Cole Barsukoff started Senior Night with a bang as he nailed a three on the team’s first possession. Mac Moorer scored the next seven ACA points to extend the lead to 10-4. Darius Gardner closed the scoring in the quarter as Alabama Christian led 12-5 after one. The home team heated up in the second and closed the half on a 14-2 run to stretch the lead to 34-10 at the break. Moorer’s long-distance shooting was featured in the period as he totaled 22 points in the first half.

The second half flew by as both teams took their time on offense in the lopsided game. Christian Snipes, Mac Moorer, and Jayden Jones scored all thirteen points in the third period to give ACA the lead by a score of 47-14. The offense was slowed down in the third, but in the fourth, it was put in neutral and left to idle as Alabama Christian decided to just run the clock. Over the final six minutes of the contest, ACA had two possessions and took one shot as they played keep away from Ellwood. The Eagles triumphed in the end, 51-16.

Mac Moorer outscored the opponent with 26 points on the night with seven steals and two assists. Christian Snipes had eight points, three rebounds and two steals while Jayden Jones had five points and two rebounds.

Girls

Rachel Rine, the team’s lone senior, led the team in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals to spark a blowout, 72-29. The guard finished with nineteen points, twelve rebounds, eight steals and seven assists.

It took the Lady Eagles almost two minutes to score their first points, but once they did the rout was on. Jaide Newkirk and Katelyn Sutton scored the team’s first eleven points for an 11-2 lead midway through the quarter. The period ended with a 20-6 advantage as Rachel Rine and Marcy Gregory scored for the Eagles. Rine scored the first four points of the second and ended the first half with 14 points as ACA built a 37-18 lead at the half.

The lead continued to grow in the third as Campbell Hammett got the hot hand with eight points in the quarter. The bench erupted with the biggest cheer of the night as Marcy Gregory hit a three from the corner for a 49-18 lead. ACA led by thirty-eight after three quarters. The running clock in the fourth made the game fly by, but the Lady Eagles did manage to extend the lead even further. Addison Smith scored the last bucket of the night in a 72-29 annihilation of Ellwood.

Three more Eagles scored in double figures as Katelyn Sutton finished with 13 points, four assists and two steals. Jaide Newkirk had 11 points and 10 rebounds while Campbell Hammett scored eleven with two rebounds. Marcy Gregory also had a career-high seven points.

Both teams travel to Notasulga on Thursday. 

Lady Eagles Sweep Season Series with MA

Girls

Alabama Christian defeated MA for the second time this season with a 39-31 triumph over the Area foe. Both offenses struggled to score, but ACA did enough on to take home the victory on their own floor. Jaide Newkirk scored on the first possession of the game, but the Eagles managed just one more score the rest of the period. MA built an 8-4 lead after one as the home Eagles did not score over the last five minutes of the quarter. Newkirk scored four quick points to open the second tying the score, 8-8. ACA scored the final six points of the half highlighted by a Rachel Rine bomb to take a 17-11 lead into the locker room.

ACA would never trail in the second half although MA did cut the lead to two points a couple of times. Izzy Warrick and Katelyn Sutton each scored to start the second half to build a 21-11 lead. The duo closed the quarter as Sutton found Warrick for a score to give the Lady Eagles their biggest lead of the night, 29-18. MA scored at the buzzer to cut the lead to nine heading to the fourth. Senior Rachel Rine was injured near the end of the third and the offense sputtered for a while in her absence. ACA failed to score over a five minute stretch that covered parts of the third and fourth quarters. The visitors cut the score to 29-27 before Jaide Newkirk scored to extend the lead to four points. Sutton took the reins from there and guided the team through the final minutes contributing to the team’s final eight points. The sophomore guard assisted on the next two baskets and drained a three herself after grabbing two offensive rebounds earlier in the possession. 

Jaide Newkirk led the squad in scoring with 14 points and added six rebounds and a block. Izzy Warrick scored 11 points, 10 in the second half, with five steals and four rebounds. Katelyn Sutton had nine points, eight in the second half, with eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

Boys

The boys capped the night with a hard fought effort against MA, but in the end fell 44-55. ACA trailed by just two points midway through the fourth, but were unable to score down the stretch. Neither offense was clicking in a methodical opening period as the teams shot a combined 6 for 25 from the floor. MA led 7-6 after one. Devin Moseley connected from deep to open the second to give ACA its first lead of the game. Conner Mark and Christian Snipes also dialed long distance with threes to help keep the game close. Alabama Christian led 21-19 at the half.

ACA led for most of the third as Jayden Jones and Darius Gardner combined for 12 of the team’s 14 points in the quarter. MA hit a three with 1:08 left in the period to take a lead they would not relinquish. The home team was able to tie the game at 43 apiece as Tyree Saadiq found Christian Snipes for a score, but mustered just a single point the rest of the game as MA finally pulled away for the eleven point victory.

A trio of players scored eleven points to lead the offense. Christian Snipes had eleven with seven rebounds and two assists. Jayden Jones had five rebounds to go along with his eleven points and Darius Gardner finished with eleven points, two blocks, and two assists.

Alabama Christian Halts Losing Streak to MA

Girls

ACA stopped a fifteen-game losing streak to MA with a 47-38 victory on the road. The officials had no intention of going home as they whistled 55 fouls in the game. The two opponents combined for seventy free throw attempts while five players fouled out. ACA made at least thirty free throws in a game for just the second time in program history and the forty-one attempts tied for third-most ever in a game. The team shot 73% from the stripe.

Rachel Rine and Jaide Newkirk scored the first five points of the night to give the visitors the early lead. MA cut the lead to one by the end of the quarter and took their only lead with a basket to start the second. Rine answered on the next possession with a three and Alabama Christian never trailed again. MA managed to keep the game close and trailed 25-22 at the break.

Both teams left the offense in the locker room in the third period. Neither team scored for almost three minutes until Jaide Newkirk broke the seal on the goal with a score in the lane. The teams combined for just six points in the third. MA got as close as five points with 57.9 seconds left in the game, but Rachel Rine clinched the win with six straight made free throws over the final 38.6 seconds.

Rachel Rine broke her own single-game record she shared with Carlie Ainsworth with fourteen made free throws in the contest. The senior led the team with 25 points and seven rebounds. Katelyn Sutton finished with nine points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals while Jaide Newkirk had eight points, four rebounds and two blocks.

Boys

ACA fell on the road 47-61 against MA Tuesday night. At the end of the first period, Devin Moseley and Jayden Jones hit back-to-back buckets to tie the score, 10-10, with less than a minute to go. The visitors gave up a three and then turned the ball over against the press and fouled the MA shooter. After hitting one free throw, the home-standing Eagles led 14-10 heading to the second. Christian Snipes scored the first points of the second quarter, but MA responded with an 8-0 run to take a ten-point lead. The teams played evenly for the remainder of the half as Mac Moorer hit a trey to close the gap to 23-30 at halftime. 

MA stretched the lead to as much as sixteen in the third quarter as they began to take control of the game. Darius Gardner and Christian Snipes combined to score on three consecutive possessions at the end of the quarter, but MA scored on a putback at the buzzer to lead 47-35. ACA fought in the fourth, but were never able to get the deficit to single digits in the fourteen point loss.

Christian Snipes scored ten points to lead ACA withfour rebounds. Mac Moorer had nine points and two steals while Jayden Jones scored eight points with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Both varsity squads travel to St James Friday night to continue Area play.

Lady Eagles Start New Year with a Blowout

Girls

Alabama Christian enjoyed an easy night on the court with a 59-13 demolition at Pike Liberal Friday night. The Eagles scored the games first twenty-two points in a contest that was never in doubt. The win evens the team’s record at 7-7.

Rachel Rine scored the night’s first points with an old fashioned three point play as she was fouled on the made bucket. All five starters scored in the period which was puncuated by Izzy Warrick’s three to close the quarter. Pike Liberal scored first in the second quarter, but ACA responded with fifteen consecutive points led by Katelyn Sutton, who scored eight points during the run. Alabama Christian led 40-5 at the break.

Jaide Newkirk highlighted the third quarter as she hit her first career 3-pointer as the Eagles expanded the lead to as much as forty-nine points. The fourth period had a running clock and all of the Eagle’s subs played the entire quarter. The final score was 59-13.

Katelyn Sutton led three Eagles in double figures with 14 points, two assists and two steals. Rachel Rine scored 13 points with seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals while Jaide Newkirk also scored 13 with six rebounds, three steals and three blocks.

The Lady Eagles open Area play in their next game as St James visits ACA on Tuesday, January 10th.

Boys

The boys game started like the girls game with ACA scoring the first five points of the game on a Mac Moorer three and a Darius Gardner two-pointer. Unfortunately, that would be the high point of the evening. The Eagles did not score a point over the next five minutes of the quarter as Pike Liberal scored ten points and never trailed again on the night. A basket at the first quarter buzzer and the first five points of the second gave the Patriots a 17-9 advantage. The teams played even the rest of the half as ACA trailed 17-25 at intermission.

Again in the second half, the Eagles scored the first five points and cut the Pike Liberal lead to three points. ACA would not score again in the period as the team managed just seven shots over the final five and a half minutes of the quarter. The Patriots led 36-22 after three as they scored the last eleven points. ACA fought in the fourth, but could get no closer than six points and fell 38-44.

Mac Moorer led the team with seven points and two assists. A trio of players scored six points. Jayden Jones had six with three rebounds, Christian Snipes had six with five rebounds, and Devin Mosely had six with three rebounds and three steals.

The Eagles next play PCA on Monday, January 9th, before opening Area play.

Lady Eagles Defeat Tallassee in a Close Game

Girls

In the first meeting, two weeks ago, ACA handled Tallassee easily with only six players. Tuesday night, the Eagles were short just one player and struggled to find an offensive rhythm all night. Senior Rachel Rine’s presence was definitely missed. 

Campbell Hammett scored the first points of the night and the two teams traded baskets throughout the opening period. The contest was tied 8-8 as neither team scored over the last two minutes of the quarter. Early in the second the visiting Tigers took their first lead of the game with an offensive rebound and score off a missed free throw. ACA tied the game on two different occasions, but could not regain the lead and trailed 19-20 at the intermission. Izzy Warrick and Jaide Newkirk each scored six points in the half to pace the offense.

The lead changed hands five times in the third period, but a pair of Katelyn Sutton free throws gave the home team the lead for good with 21.3 seconds left in the quarter. Izzy Warrick and Maddie Traywick scored the first two baskets of the final period to give ACA a 36-31 lead. Tallassee responded and tied the game 40-40 with just over a minute left in the game. Jaide Newkirk scored in the paint and Campbell Hammett made a steal and scored to make it 44-40. After Tallassee made one of two free throws, Hammett grabbed an offensive rebound on an Eagle missed freebie and scored to seal the game. The last four possessions of the game ended with both teams making one of two free throws and Alabama Christian hung on for the 48-43 victory.

Jaide Newkirk was the game’s leading scorer with 16 points as she dominated the inside with 18 rebounds and four blocks. Campbell Hammett added 11 points with four rebounds and three steals while Izzy Warrick had 10 points with four rebounds.

Boys

ACA came out on fire in the boy’s game as a bewildered Tallassee coach called his second timeout of the quarter with 3:11 left and his team trailing 13-2. Mac Moorer and Conner Mark combined for three made threes in the first five minutes of the game. The Tigers settled down and cut the lead to 15-8 by the end of the period. The end of the quarter saw the first of seven attempts to stall or hold for a last shot by the Tallassee coach. Although they would eventually win the game, the visitors only scored once when they tried to slow the pace. Tallassee scored the first ten points of the second period to take their first lead of the night, and would never trail again. ACA trailed 18-21 after two quarters.

The offenses for both teams disappeared in the third period as the two teams combined to make just seven shots from the floor as Tallassee outscored ACA 9-6 to extend the lead to six points. ACA continued to struggle as the Tigers pulled away in the fourth. Trailing by just three points, the Eagles gave up eleven straight points to trail 29-43. Both teams added a basket in the final two and a half minutes as Tallassee prevailed, 45-31.

Tyree Saadiq’s ten points led the offense with four rebounds and four assists. Conner Mark had seven points while Mac Moorer finished with six points. Mark, Moorer and Christian Snipes were all held scoreless in the second half. Darius Gardner led the team with five rebounds.

ACA Boys and Girls Sweep Ellwood Christian

Both varsity teams won their fourth game of the season as they dominated at Ellwood Christian in Selma. Alabama Christian overpowered the home standing Eagles as the boys won 90-19 and the girls won by a score of 75-34. The boys point total was the most since 2008 and the seventy-one point margin of victory is the second biggest in program history. The Lady Eagles offensive output was the best since 2010.

Jayden Jones drives to the basket for two.

The boys led 33-9 after a quarter and extended the lead in every quarter for the rest of the game. All ten players played and scored on the night. Four players scored in double figures led by Jayden Jones with 23 points. Christian Snipes scored 18 followed by Mac Moorer with 15 and Cole Barsukoff with 11 points.

Katelyn Sutton hits a layup.

The Lady Eagles were also impressive in their game against Ellwood. Leading 42-22 at the half, the squad took away all doubt of the outcome by outscoring its opponent 25-4 in the third and cruised to a forty-one-point triumph. Five players reached double figures as Katelyn Sutton scored 18 points, connecting on four threes. Rachel Rine scored 15 points while Campbell Hammett and Jaide Newkirk both had 13 and Izzy Warrick had 11 points.

ACA Survives Road Test at LAMP

Boys

A young team, learning a new coach, a new system, and how to finish games, held off LAMP in a 52-50 thriller Friday night. The Eagles have won three of their last four games and are showing improvement every time out. 

Christian Snipes hit the first shot of the game, but LAMP controlled much of the opening period and led 11-6 with 2:26 left. Devin Moseley and Mac Moorer hit back-to-back threes to give ACA a 12-11 lead. The lead switched hands three more times in the final 96 seconds as LAMP held a 15-14 advantage at the end of the quarter. Neither team scored during the first two minutes of the second quarter. Snipes broke the scoreless drought and put the Eagles back up by one. The teams traded baskets as the lead changed four times over the next two minutes. The home-standing Tigers finally put together consecutive scores and once again built a five-point lead, 25-20. Snipes and Darius Gardner combined for seven straight Alabama Christian points to take a two-point lead, but LAMP hit a triple late to take a 28-27 advantage into the half. 

Darius Gardner guards the LAMP ballhandler.

LAMP scored the first five points of the second half to build their biggest lead of the game, 33-27. Once again it took ACA a while to get in a rhythm as they scored their first points more than two and a half minutes into the period. With 1:15 left in the third, Mac Moorer connected from downtown to give the Eagles the lead for good. Christian Snipes added two free throws one possession later and ACA took a 40-37 lead to the final quarter. The Eagles looked poised to run away with the contest as the lead extended to seven points early in the period on a Snipes basket. To LAMP’s credit, they fought back and tied the score 48-48 with 1:09 remaining. ACA turned the ball over, but the Tigers returned the favor with an errant throw on a fast break opportunity. On the next possession, Darius Gardner was fouled going to the hole and calmly sunk his free shots with 33.8 seconds left. The defense forced a LAMP turnover and Gardner hit two more freebies with 20.8 seconds to ice the contest. The home team scored at the buzzer for the final margin of 52-50.

Tyree Saadiq looks for an open teammate.

Christian Snipes scored a game-high 24 points with seven rebounds and three blocks. Darius Gardner scored eleven, hitting all six of his free throws, with nine rebounds while Mac Moorer had ten points. Tyree Saadiq had a team-high five assists as he directed the offense.

Girls

The Lady Eagles had their chances against LAMP Friday night but shot poorly from the floor and the line as the game got away from them in the fourth quarter. ACA shot just 27% from the floor and made one of twenty 3-point attempts.

Alabama Christian scored the first six points of the game and looked ready to blow LAMP out, but it never happened. The Lady Tigers methodically ran their offense and trailed by only one point at the end of the first, 7-8. In the second, the contest remained close as the lead changed hands a couple of times. Rachel Rine and Jaide Newkirk scored the last four points of the half to give the Eagles a 20-17 advantage.

The Eagles built the lead to five on three different occasions in the third, but LAMP responded every time. The Tigers held ACA scoreless for over three minutes in the middle of the period and hit a three in the final seconds for a 30-28 lead. In the fourth quarter, Alabama Christian wilted under the pressure LAMP produced. The home team outscored its opponent 11-2 to start the quarter and stretched the lead to double digits. Overall, the Eagles were outscored 8-19 in the period and lost 36-49.

Rachel Rine produced a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds with three steals. Jaide Newkirk had eight points with twelve rebounds and two blocks while Katelyn Sutton had seven points, all in the first half, with four steals and three rebounds.

Short Handed Lady Eagles Run Over Tallassee

Girls

ACA dressed only six players Monday night due to other school activities and injury, but the team was unphased by the lack of players as they blitzed Tallassee 67-36 on the road. Alabama Christian more than doubled up the Tigers in the first quarter to lead 16-7 and did it again in the second for a 34-16 halftime advantage. The Lady Eagles continued to pull away in the second half for the decisive thirty-one-point triumph. 

Jaide Newkirk became just the fourth different player in program history to score at least 30 points in a game with a 31-point performance. The last player to score 31 in a game was Christina Hayes in 2008. Rachel Rine finished with 20 points followed by Katelyn Sutton with 10 points and Izzy Warrick with six points.

Boys

For the second game in a row Coach Jim Sanderson faced off against a former player as his Eagles played at Tallassee Monday night. The home team jumped out early and built a 24-12 lead after a quarter. ACA fought their way back into it as they cut the lead to single digits by halftime, 33-25. The Eagles managed just 13 points in the second half as they fell to the Tigers 50-38.

Christian Snipes led the offense with 13 points. Mac Moorer, who made all three of the team’s 3-pointers, scored 11 followed by Darius Gardner’s 10 points.

Both Alabama Christian teams play at LAMP Friday night in the third of six consecutive road games.

ACA Girls Week in Review - Two Milestone Victories for Eagles

The Lady Eagles experienced two milestone victories during the week as Spenser Cantrell coached her first win on Tuesday against Notasulga and the girl’s program notched its 500th win with a convincing performance over Thorsby. ACA won two of three during the week as they dropped a game at Thomasville on Saturday.

11-29-22 Notasulga

To see the final score of the contest against Notasulga, one would never guess ACA got off to a slow start. However, with 4:42 left in the first, the teams were tied, 4-4. Coach Cantrell called a timeout and whatever she said worked. The Eagles finished the quarter on a 15-0 run to stretch the lead to 19-4. The defense forced nine turnovers and allowed only four shots for the Lady Devils over the second half of the period. Izzy Warrick scored seven points followed by Rachel Rine and Jaide Newkirk with four points apiece as they pulled away from the visitors. Alabama Christian hit their first five free throws in the second period to help extend the lead. Warrick and Campbell Hammett each scored four points in the quarter to lead the team. ACA had a 30-7 cushion heading into the locker room.

Jaide Newkirk goes up for a rebound.

In the third quarter, the defensive pressure continued and the offense caught fire as they scored the first fifteen points of the period and outscored Notasulga 25-2 overall. Katelyn Sutton terrorized the Blue Devil offense with five of her team-high nine steals in the third. Notasulga managed just two made free throws for their only points in the period. Even in the half court, the Devils’ offense had trouble functioning as the Eagles called off any kind of pressure. ACA outscored the visitors 13-2 in the quarter for a final tally of 68-11.

Izzy Warrick heads up the floor.

Jaide Newkirk’s 20 points led the offense with nine rebounds followed by Rachel Rine with 18 points, five rebounds and three steals. Izzy Warrick produced a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds with five steals. Campbell Hammett tallied ten points, four assists, four steals and three rebounds. Katelyn Sutton tied Hammett with a team-high four assists and had nine steals.

12-1-22 Thorsby

A slow start was not a problem Thursday against Thorsby. The Lady Eagles scored the first nine points of the game as four different players made baskets. The Rebels’ only points came after two Eagle defenders collided with each other, trying for a steal. The mishap led to an easy layup for the visitors. Alabama Christian scored the last fifteen points of the period for a 24-2 cushion after the opening quarter. The stifling Eagle defense forced ten turnovers and allowed only eight shots for Thorsby. ACA scored three quick buckets to open the second for a 30-2 advantage and led 34-7 at the break.

Coach Cantrell gives directions to her players.

The defense did not allow a field goal in the third quarter as ACA outscored Thorsby 14-1 in the period for a 48-8 margin after three. Due to the thirty-plus point lead, the clock ran continuously in the final period. At one point, the ACA defense deflected four inbounds passes in a row that took more than a minute off the clock. The Rebels were finally able to score from the floor with less than five minutes left in the game, but the outcome had long been decided. Alabama Christian overpowered the visitors, 50-17.

Katelyn Sutton passes to an open teammate.

Jaide Newkirk scored 15 points to lead all scorers with eight rebounds and three blocks. Rachel Rine had 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals while Katelyn Sutton finished with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals.

12-3-22 at Thomasville

ACA did not let their first road game rattle their nerves as they visited Thomasville. After giving up the game’s first points, the Eagles controlled the remainder of the quarter. Jaide Newkirk and Katelyn Sutton combined to score nine points for a 9-3 lead midway through the first. Campbell Hammett stretched the advantage to 15-5 as she scored after an offensive rebound with 1:50 left. Neither team scored the rest of the way as the lead stayed at ten points headed to the second. Alabama Christian was whistled for six fouls in the quarter and would continue to be plagued by eager stripes the rest of the half. The saying “There is a foul on every play if you’re looking for it” was brought to life by the officials as they called ten fouls in a three-minute span on both teams which brought any flow to the game to a halt. Jaide Newkirk picked up her third with 6:20 left in the half with the team leading 16-9. With Newkirk on the bench, the lead disappeared and the Lady Eagles trailed by two, 21-23 at the half.

The game remained close in the third and ACA took the lead on a Katelyn Sutton three. After the score, Thomasville ended the quarter on a 10-1 lead for their biggest lead of the game, 37-29. The Eagles were still down by eight with six minutes left when they started to chip away at the deficit. Izzy Warrick nailed a three followed by a Rachel Rine bucket to cut the lead to three points. Sutton sank two free throws with 4:17 remaining to make the score 39-40. Warrick gave Alabama Christian the lead with an and-one opportunity at 3:36 in the fourth. Jaide Newkirk rebounded the missed free throw and drew a foul herself to extend the lead to three points, 45-42. The Tigers turned up the pressure as the contest neared its conclusion. With less than a minute left, Thomasville scored on an offensive rebound to cut the lead to two. After an ill-advised shot by ACA, the Tigers were fouled and tied the score. The Eagles turned the ball over and the home team took the lead with seven seconds left. After another turnover, ACA got the ball back one last time with 0.3 seconds left but was unable to score in the 49-51 defeat.

Jaide Newkirk led the team with 15 points and six rebounds. Katelyn Sutton had 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals while Rachel Rine scored ten with six assists and three boards.  

ACA Drops Two in Thanksgiving Tournament

Alabama Christian began their season as tournament host over the Thanksgiving break for the second year in a row. Spenser Cantrell, who was an assistant last year, coached her first games as the leader of the girl’s program. The Lady Eagles dropped both games as they lost to Sipsey Valley, 38-52, and Smiths Station, 50-56.

The Lady Eagles opened with Sipsey Valley and the tone was set for the game as the first foul was called eight seconds into the contest. Campbell Hammett scored the first points of the season as she drained a three to tie the game early in the period. Rachel Rine closed the first quarter by hitting two of three free throws as she was fouled at the buzzer. ACA trailed 10-13 after the opening period. After Sipsey Valley scored to begin the second, the Eagles ran off nine straight points to take a 19-15 lead. Rine and Jaide Newkirk combined for eight of the nine points to spark the offense. With 4:37 left in the half, Rine joined Katelyn Sutton on the bench with her third foul and had to watch the rest of the half. The squad hung tough as they were minus their two ball handlers for the rest of the half. Newkirk managed three points to finish the quarter as ACA trailed 22-23 at the half. 

Jaide Newkirk moves to the basket for the shot.

Jaide Newkirk gave the home team the lead as she scored the first two points of the half. ACA kept the lead for the first three minutes of the quarter. As the Bears overcame the deficit and took the lead, the lack of depth showed against the Eagles towards the end of the period. Sipsey Valley led 37-30 at the end of three. Every time the Lady Eagles scored in the final quarter, the Bears immediately answered and stretched the lead to as much as sixteen points. Campbell Hammett scored the last bucket of the game for the final margin of 38-52.

Rachel Rine brings the ball up the court.

Jaide Newkirk led the offense with 17 points while totaling 12 rebounds and four steals. Senior Rachel Rine had 12 points and four assists while Campbell Hammett finished with seven points, six rebounds and four steals.

In the second game against Smiths Station, ACA fell behind in the third quarter before making a furious comeback only to come up just short in the six-point defeat. Rachel Rine and Jaide Newkirk combined for ten of the team’s twelve first-quarter points for a 12-11 lead after one. In the second, the Eagles outscored Smiths Station 7-2 over the first two minutes and stretched the lead to eight points as Campbell Hammett knocked down a three with 3:54 left in the half for a 25-17 advantage. Alabama Christian led 26-21 at the half.

In the third period, the Lady Panthers turned up the pressure picking up full court and negatively affecting the Eagle attack. Smiths Station outscored the home team 18-5 in the quarter and held ACA scoreless from the field for a 39-31 lead. Jaide Newkirk’s field goal two minutes into the fourth period broke a 14:13 drought from the field that spanned parts of three quarters. The visitors held a 48-38 edge with 2:34 left in the game when the Lady Eagles staged a serious comeback in just under two minutes. Rachel Rine hit three free throws after being fouled and then stole the inbounds pass and scored again to cut the lead to 43-48 with 2:06 remaining. Rine was fouled again while shooting a three and drained all her freebies to cut the lead to five points with 1:13 on the clock. Campbell Hammett scored back-to-back baskets in a fifteen-second span to cut the lead to 50-51 with just 43.6 seconds left in the contest. ACA would not score again as the Panthers scored five points to close it out for the 56-50 victory.

Rachel Rine led the offense with 22 points, including a remarkable 12 for 13 from the line, and added five steals and three rebounds. The twelve made free throws ties for the second most made in a game in program history. Jaide Newkirk finished with 12 points, five rebounds and three steals followed by Campbell Hammett with nine points and twelve rebounds and Katelyn Sutton with seven points, six rebounds and four assists.

ACA resumes play next week as they host Notasulga on Tuesday, November 29th. 

ACA Falls at Bibb County in Sub-Regionals

The Lady Eagles reached the Sub-regionals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2011 with the runner-up finish in the Class 4A Area 5 tournament. On Monday, ACA traveled to Centreville, AL to take on the Area 6 champs from Bibb County. A win would mean a spot in the Regionals, but a defeat would be the end of the season.

Bibb County overpowered the Eagles as the home standing Choctaws built a 40-6 halftime lead. In the second half, Bibb County subbed freely which allowed Alabama Christian to make the final tally closer. The Lady Choctaws won the game by a final score of 60-34 and were led by Chartavia Conwell who poured in 30 points, 22 in the first half. Junior Rachel Rine led the Eagles with 15 points, all in the second half while Jaide Newkirk finished with eight points.

Although it was a rough ending to the season, there is optimism in the girl's program as Augusta Guthrie heads into her second year at the helm. For much of the year the starting five had one junior (Rine) and three freshmen (Newkirk, Katelyn Sutton and Izzy Warrick) who will bring another year of experience with them next season. In addition, Annabelle Pugh (10th) and Campbell Hammett (8th) provided crucial minutes at the end of the season and gained valuable experience.

ACA Falls to LAMP in Area Finals at the Buzzer

A lot was on the line Thursday night as Alabama Christian and LAMP played for the 4A Area 5 championship. ACA was trying to win the title for the second year in a row, which hadn’t been done since 2010, and LAMP was shooting for its first Area championship in program history. Also, both teams were hoping to avoid the 90 minute road trip, if they lost, for the Sub-regional round.

Both teams were tight early and it took almost two minutes for either team to score a basket. Once the offense settled in, the Lady Eagles connected on four 3-pointers in the first period and took a 14-8 lead after one. Alabama Christian led by as many as thirteen points in the second quarter as Rachel Rine gave the Eagles a 30-17 lead late in the half. LAMP scored the last four points of the period and trailed 30-21 at the half.

ACA looked tired in the third quarter while LAMP had more energy coming out of the locker room. In one stretch, the Eagles did not score for over five minutes and LAMP built a 37-32 lead with 1:38 left in the quarter. The Golden Tigers took a 44-36 lead into the fourth as they outscored ACA 23-6 in the quarter. Alabama Christian’s starting five played the vast majority of the game and the fatigue showed in the second half.

The Lady Eagles still trailed by eight with 1:59 left in the game when they made a furious comeback fueled by determination and adrenaline. Rachel Rine hit one of three free throws to cut the lead to 45-52. After an Izzy Warrick steal, Annabelle Pugh was fouled with 1:38 on the clock as she tried to score after an offensive rebound. Pugh hit one of two free throws, but Jaide Newkirk rebounded the miss and scored to cut the lead to 48-52. LAMP missed the front end of a one and one with 1:13 left. Rine threw the ball the length of the court and found Warrick for a layup to make the score 50-52 with 1:05 left. The Golden Tigers missed another one and one opportunity and fouled Warrick with 38.1 seconds remaining. Warrick hit one of two and the lead was cut to one. After an Eagle foul, LAMP hit one free throw for a two point lead. Newkirk was fouled with 29.3 seconds left and hit both free throws to tie the game, 53-53. With 5.6 seconds left, ACA fouled LAMP, but the visitors missed both free throws, but the ball was knocked out of bounds with 2.2 seconds left. LAMP scored on the inbound play as the buzzer sounded and took home the title with a 55-53 win over the Eagles.

Rachel Rine scored a season high 26 points with 5 rebounds and four assists. Campbell Hammett scored 11 points with five boards while Izzy Warrick had eight points and seven rebounds and Jaide Newkirk had seven points and nine rebounds.

Alabama Christian will travel to Bibb County on Monday, February 14th, for the Sub-regional round of the playoffs.