Coach Steven Thomas got his first win as the head coach of the ACA basketball team with a 50-41 victory over Thorsby. Alabama Christian (1-2) took control early hitting 3 three pointers in the opening quarter for a 12-2 lead. As would be the pattern for the game, Thorsby clawed their way back into the contest and trailed 14-11 early in the second period. The Eagles scored eight of the next ten points in the quarter to extend the lead to 22-13 midway through the second. Once again, Thorsby fought back into the game and cut the lead to 24-19 at the half. ACA scored the first nine points of the second half and built its biggest lead of the night at 33-19. The Rebels answered and scored the last 13 points of the period to cut the deficit to one at 33-32, entering the fourth quarter. The contest was tight through the fourth quarter as the lead changed hands four times. Avery Stuart gave the Eagles the lead for good with a steal and a bucket for a 43-41 advantage. Hayes Hunt sealed the game on the next possession as he picked the pocket of Thorsby’s best player and drew the fifth foul of the Rebel as he hit the layup with 1:07 left for a four point lead. In a game of runs, ACA scored the last ten points of the night in a 50-41 victory. Caden Perry led all scorers with 18 points and added three rebounds and three assists. Hayes Hunt scored 12 with four steals and two assists and Braden Alford contributed eight points and three rebounds.
Michaelyn Manning pulls up at the foul line for the jumper.
The Lady Eagles opened the night with a very similar game as the boys played. ACA (2-2) scored the first eight points of the contest and seemed to dominate the first quarter, but only led 12-7 at the end of the period as the Lady Rebels hit a three. The game was tied 14-14 with four minutes left in the half when the Eagles turned up the pressure and finished the quarter with a 14-0 run for a 28-14 lead at the intermission. During the run, Katie Chappell and Michaelyn Manning scored twelve of the fourteen points for Alabama Christian. Thorsby was only able to get as close as eight points in the second half as ACA came away with a 49-33 win. Michaelyn Manning finished the game with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Katie Chappell also scored 16 for the game with five rebounds and three assists. Sarah Johnson added seven points and led the Lady Eagles with ten rebounds and six steals.
Both teams travel to Sansom Friday night for their next contest.