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.