When shots are falling, life is good! ACA (16-6) experienced the good life Tuesday night at Trinity as they dominated their longtime rival, 77-57. The offense posted a season high in points and made 11 of 21 threes in the Area contest. The defense also clamped down on the Wildcat’s only real offensive weapon and held him in check until he exploded in the final period. The postman would finish with 36 of the home team’s 57 points.
Both teams felt each other out over the first few minutes of the game as Trinity led 3-2 three minutes in. Mac Moorer connected on his first three of the night to give the visitors a 5-3 lead that would never be relinquished. Moorer would finish the quarter with 10 points as ACA led 19-13. Alabama Christian overwhelmed Trinity in the second period as they outscored the Wildcats 13-5 for a 32-18 cushion at the break. Sam Davidson had six in the stanza to lead the team as ACA continued to cook from the outside.
The Eagles came out of the locker room for the second half with confidence as the team looked loose and relaxed warming up for the third. Trinity continued to press in the second half and ACA continued to handle it. The visitors threw over it, moved through it, passed around it as the coaching staff had prepared them well. Two unusual and comical plays happened in the third. The first happened as ACA inbounded underneath their own basket. However, no one seemed to realize it as ACA threw it in everyone headed towards the half court line. Just as Connor Mark approached the line, he turned and threw it to a wide open Darius Gardner who laid the ball in for a 44-27 lead. The second occurred as the Trinity coach pleaded for a foul call and claimed his player’s nose had been bloodied. After further inspection, that seemed to be a gross exaggeration as the player's white jersey was pristine and looked like it was fresh from the factory.
ACA led by twenty-five heading into the fourth and maintained the lead midway through when Trinity decided to start fouling and make the Eagles earn it from the stripe. Coach Mitchell knew the plan was to foul Tyree Saadiq and he masterfully outmaneuvered his counterpart as he moved the senior around the floor and made it difficult for the Wildcats to employ their strategy. When they were able to get to Saadiq, he made them pay as he hit 3 of his 4 freebies down the stretch. Trinity never got closer than 17 points in the fourth as ACA cruised to a 77-57 win.
Mac Moorer scored a career high 34 points, the most since Reed Teel matched the total in 2009, as he connected on six 3-pointers. Sam Davidson finished with 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists followed by Darius Gardner with 12 points and a team-high six boards. Tyree Saadiq, the best point guard among the CCC schools, produced ten points, seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals.
The Lady Eagles (10-11) knew the competition was top notch on Tuesday, but they did not back down and played with heart despite the lopsided final. Trinity scored 25 points per quarter over the first three in a 79-34 defeat of Alabama Christian.
Jaide Newkirk led the team with 18 points and added four rebounds. Izzy Warrick followed with seven points, three rebounds, and three assists. Katelyn Sutton had four points and a team best seven rebounds.
Alabama Christian will travel outside of Area competition as they visit Billingsley on Thursday, January 25th.