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.
