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.