Baseball Opens Season with Doubleheader at Stanhope Elmore

Alabama Christian opened the season Saturday afternoon at Furlow Field on the campus of Stanhope Elmore against Carroll and the host Mustangs. ACA defeated Carroll 15-5 in five innings in the opener and fell to Stanhope Elmore 10-3. In the opener, JT Moorer started strong for the Eagles as he struck out the side in the first inning between two errors and a catcher’s interference and held Carroll scoreless for the first two frames. The offense scored eight runs for Moorer in the first two innings as Zac Westbrook delivered extra base hits in both innings and drove in four runs on the way to the eight run advantage. Carroll scored the next five runs to cut the lead to 8-5, but ACA closed out the game by scoring the last seven runs for the 15-5 win. Moorer picked up the win as he pitched four innings with six strikeouts. Brandon Bice finished the game with a scoreless frame in relief. Bice finished 3 for 4 with two RBI’s and Westbrook finished 2 for 2 with a triple and a double and four runs driven in. Mason Prestage, Thomas Stovall and Isaac Warrick each delivered two hits in the contest.

Isaac Warrick pitches in game two against Stanhope Elmore.

In game two, Alabama Christian played the host team and fell 10-3 after losing a late lead. ACA scored two runs in the top of the first and held a 3-1 lead after four and a half innings. Starter Isaac Warrick pitched a strong four innings and struck out the side in the second and third innings. After walking the first two batters in the fifth, Chase Madrid relieved Warrick and the Mustang offense caught fire and scored nine runs over the final two frames against Madrid and Mason Prestage. Offensively, Brandon Bice and Zac Westbrook each had two hits and drove in a run while Warrick had nine strikeouts over four innings. Madrid took the loss out of the bullpen.

ACA next plays Catholic on Tuesday night in their home opener.

Alabama Christian Defeats BTW for Area Title

The boys team looked to duplicate the achievement of the Lady Eagles and win the final game of the Area tournament Saturday afternoon against the Yellow Jackets of BTW. ACA accomplished the task with a 70-47 victory to take the title. Both teams started tight as it took both teams almost two minutes to score the first points of the game. Hayes Hunt put the Eagles ahead for good with a put back basket and a 4-2 lead and ACA led 12-10 after one. Once again the second quarter started slowly as neither team scored in the first two minutes of the period. However, once ACA did score the flood gates opened and the Eagles blitzed the Yellow Jackets with a 22-2 run to close out the half. The highlight of the quarter was a steal and slam by Avery Stuart to give Alabama Christian a 20-12 lead. The half ended with the Eagles holding a commanding 34-12 lead.

Hayes Hunt drives to the basket against the BTW defense.

The Eagles stretched the lead to 24 points in the third period and Coach Thomas began to substitute freely as many players were able to play in the second half. Despite the many substitutions, Alabama Christian outscored the Jackets 36-35 in the half for the 70-47 winning margin. Tournament MVP, Hayes Hunt led the Eagle attack with 15 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks while Avery Stuart had 14 points with four rebounds and three blocks. Braden Alford scored 12 points while Preston Hicks added 11 points, three rebounds and three assists. All four double digit scorers were named to the All-tournament team.

Braden Alford shoots a three from the corner.

The Eagles will host Bibb County on Tuesday night in the Sub-regional round of the playoffs.

Lady Eagles Are Area Champs After Defeating LAMP

For the first time since 2012, the ACA girls team has won the Area championship and will host the sub-regional round of the playoffs after a 46-31 win over LAMP. Coach Mike Anderson could not be at the game due to health reasons, but the starters acknowledged him by waiving to him at home as they were announced. The game was close through the first half and ACA took its first lead of the game with a little over a minute remaining in the first period as Michaelyn Manning hit a pair of free throws for an 8-6 advantage. Manning picked up her second foul and went to the bench with 2:41 left in the second period with just a one point lead, but Sarah Johnson made two baskets and Cayla Schofield had a put back score down the stretch and ACA owned a 19-15 lead at the half. A tough night at the line allowed LAMP to stay close as Alabama Christian missed fourteen free throws in the first half. Manning scored the first four points of the third quarter to give the Lady Eagles a little breathing room and LAMP would never come closer than five points for the remainder of the game. ACA led 31-23 heading into the final period and watched as LAMP wore down as ACA outscored the Golden Tigers 15-8 in the fourth quarter for the 46-31 final.

Sarah Johnson shoots for two on an inbound play.

Tournament MVP, Michaelyn Manning led all scorers with 23 points and added seven rebounds. Katie Chappell had nine points, eight rebounds and six steals while Sarah Johnson added six points with seven rebounds and four steals. Chappell, Johnson and Heather Ford were each named to the All-tournament team.

The Lady Eagles will host Montevallo in the sub-regional round next Tuesday night.

Eagles Drop Close Game to Catholic

ACA let one get away from them on Tuesday night as they built a two goal lead in the second half, but eventually fell to the Knights, 3-2. Although much of the first half was played on Alabama Christian’s side of the field, the Eagles scored the only goal of the first half as Dalton Hutchinson found the back of the net with a header for the 1-0 lead. The Knights continued to apply the pressure in the second half, but again ACA found a way to score as Hutchinson outraced the Catholic defense to the ball and scored his second goal of the contest with 29 minutes left in the game. Catholic responded quickly as the Knights scored twice in six minutes to tie the game 2-2 with 23 minutes remaining. The game winning goal was scored from 30 yards out with six minutes left and ACA was unable to answer for the 3-2 defeat. Emmett Sanford finished the night with eight saves and Sean Moffett had an assist.

Tennis and Soccer Open the Spring Sports Season

For the first time since 2001, Alabama Christian is competing at the varsity level in tennis. The Eagles first match was Thursday afternoon in Troy against Charles Henderson. ACA has competed at the Junior Varsity level for the past two years and this group has laid the foundation for future Eagle tennis teams.
ACA defeated the Trojans in ten of the eleven matches played. Ava Rose Dean, Molly Howard, Paige Henry, Ann Welch Hilyer, Emma Rives and Layne DeCapite all won their singles matches while Henry/Hilyer, Dean/Howard and DeCapite/Rives each won their doubles matches. Landon Hunton won the lone boys match, 10-0. ACA will next play at the O’Connor Tennis Center on Tuesday, February 16th against LAMP.

The boys soccer team opened its season in Opelika with a 7-1 loss to the host school. Dalton Hutchinson scored Alabama Christian’s only goal and Emmett Sanford had four save in goal for the Eagles. ACA is scheduled to host Catholic on Tuesday, February 9th in their next contest.

ACA Breaks Streak with Victory Over Trinity

December 8, 2015 was the last time ACA had defeated Trinity in basketball until Tuesday night. The Eagles broke an eleven game losing streak to the Wildcats with a 57-50 triumph on their home floor. After a Trinity basket to start the scoring, Alabama Christian scored eleven straight points from four different players to open an 11-2 lead midway through the opening quarter. The Eagles remained aggressive throughout the first half and kept the lead between six and twelve points until halftime. Hayes Hunt scored with four minutes to go in the half to give the Eagles their biggest lead at 25-13 and the home team led 28-17 at intermission. The Wildcats responded in the third quarter and erased the Eagle advantage to take a 43-42 lead into the final period. Trinity scored the first points of the fourth quarter and the Eagles countered with nine consecutive points as four different players scored over the next four minutes to take 51-45 lead into the final three minutes of the game. Trinity could never get closer than four points as Avery Stuart and Braden Alford knocked down their free throws in the final minute to help secure the win. Stuart led all scorers with 19 points, hitting all seven of his free throws, and added nine rebounds while Jalen Clark finished with nine points, five rebounds and five steals. Elijah Collins scored eight points with three rebounds and Caden Perry had eight points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

Avery Stuart readies to drive down the floor against Trinity.

The Lady Eagles were overwhelmed by a very talented Trinity squad, 56-24. Izzy Warrick hit an early three to cut the Wildcat lead to 4-3 and that was as close as ACA would ever get. Trinity scored the next ten points and led 23-4 at the end of one. It was more of the same in the second quarter and the Trinity lead was extended to 43-15. The Eagles outscored the Wildcat’s second unit in the fourth quarter, 6-0, but it wasn’t near enough in the 32 point defeat. Senior Michaelyn Manning was the offense for ACA as she scored 19 of the team’s 24 points on the night along with a team high seven rebounds and five steals.

Michaelyn Manning drives the lane and draws the foul against Trinity.

Alabama Christian wraps up the regular season Friday night as they visit Elmore County.

Eagles Swept by Wetumpka

Alabama Christian hosted 6A Wetumpka Friday night and were beaten in both varsity contests. The Lady Eagles had not played Wetumpka since 2003 and kept the game close for three quarters, but were unable to keep pace in the fourth period as the Indians pulled away for a 52-34 win. After ACA scored the first bucket of the game, Wetumpka ran off nine straight points for a seven point lead, but only scored once more the last four minutes of the period. Michaelyn Manning scored four points in the final minute of the quarter to cut the lead to 11-6 after one. Once again, the Indians stretched the lead to start the second and led 23-11 midway through the period, but like the first quarter the offense stalled and the Eagles scored the last six points of the half to trail 23-17 at intermission. In the second half, a quick bucket by Manning and a put back by Heather Ford cut the Wetumpka lead to a single basket. The quarter remained close and the Eagles trailed 33-28 heading to the fourth. Wetumpka outscored ACA 19-6 in the last period to close out the game. Manning led the offense with 15 points and five rebounds. Sarah Johnson scored eight points with four rebounds and Jaide Newkirk added four points.

Michaelyn Manning pulls up at the foul line for a jumper.

The boys game was a close affair, but the Eagles just could not get over the hump and take the lead. A tough night at the line didn’t help matters as ACA missed twenty free throws in a whistle happy game that saw 49 fouls called between the two teams. Alabama Christian trailed 18-13 after one quarter as Elijah Collins scored five points to pace the Eagles. ACA still trailed by five with five minutes left to go in the half when Jalen Clark and Hayes Hunt combined to score the last ten Eagle points of the first half to cut the Indian lead to 29-27 at the break. Wetumpka scored the first eight points of the second half to open up a ten point lead and were able to maintain at least a five point lead for the remainder of the contest. Alabama Christian made a run very late in the game as Avery Stuart scored six points in the last forty seconds, but it wasn’t enough as the Eagles fell 57-51. Stuart led the Eagles with 14 points and four rebounds while Jalen Clark had 11 points and six rebounds and Hayes Hunt added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Avery Stuart battles for a loose ball against a Wetumpka defender.

Alabama Christian next plays Trinity on Tuesday night, February 2nd.

Michaelyn Manning Ranks Eighth in Career Points After LAMP Game

Senior Michaelyn Manning passed Heather Dailey and Suzy Stowe to move into eighth place in points scored in program history. Manning’s 14 points against LAMP gives her 744 points for her career. ACA defeated the Golden Tigers, 40-25, to clinch the regular season Area title and secured a spot in the sub-regionals. The game was tied 6-6 midway through the opening period when Manning and Izzy Warrick hit back-to-back threes to give the Eagles a lead they would never relinquish. Late in the second quarter, Heather Ford scored five consecutive points to stretch the ACA lead to 23-9 as the Eagles took control of the game. In the third period, neither team could score as the two opponents combined for only ten points. Alabama Christian led 27-17 heading to the final period. The Lady Eagles connected on 7 of 10 free throws in the fourth to keep LAMP at arm’s length and won the contest by 15 points. Manning led the offense with 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals while Ford had seven points with eleven rebounds and four blocks. Katie Chappell had seven points, five rebounds and three steals and Izzy Warrick finished with seven points, three rebounds and three steals.

Heather Ford scores down low for the Eagles.

The boys also had a chance to clinch a spot in the sub-regional round against LAMP Friday night and the Eagles beat the Golden Tigers, 57-42. The game was tightly contested for the first ten minutes as ACA led 14-13 one minute into the second quarter. Alabama Christian scored the next 13 points in the game and held LAMP scoreless for over six minutes and led 27-16 at the half. The second half started with a bang as Avery Stuart stole the ball and hammered home a two-hand dunk for the first bucket of the quarter. LAMP responded and cut the score to 35-30 with 2:29 remaining in the third and the period ended with the Eagles leading 37-30. ACA scored the first eight points of the final quarter and looked ready to put LAMP away, but was unable as LAMP once again closed the gap and trailed 47-40 with two minutes left in the game. The Eagles hit eight of nine free throws in the final 1:42 of the game to expand the lead and beat LAMP 57-42. Stuart led the Eagle attack with 24 points and four rebounds and Braden Alford scored nine points. Caden Perry added seven points with five rebounds while Hayes Hunt grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the team.

Avery Stuart drives to the bucket for two points.

Both teams continue play Tuesday night against BTW-Magnet in an Area match up.

ACA Boys and Girls Remain Undefeated in Area Play

Both varsity squads remained atop the Area standings as Alabama Christian defeated BTW-Magnet twice Tuesday night. In the boys game, ACA never trailed and held the Yellow Jackets to just four points in the first quarter. Hayes Hunt found Elijah Collins under the basket to give the Eagles their biggest lead of the half at 21-8. ACA pulled away in the third period outscoring BTW 16-8 and were led by Avery Stuart who scored 12 points in the frame. Alabama Christian almost duplicated the feat in the final period as they outscored their opponent 15-8 to finish the game with a 54-28 victory. Avery Stuart led the team in scoring with 14 points and eight rebounds while Braden Alford scored 12 points. Hayes Hunt had an excellent all around game and was just two assists short of a triple-double. The sophomore scored ten points with eleven rebounds and eight assists.

The Eagle defense awaits the BTW ball handler.

The Lady Eagles had one of their best offensive nights of the season as they defeated the Lady Jackets 65-33. ACA led 11-9 with 2:45 remaining in the first quarter and exploded for twelve consecutive points to finish the period led by Michaelyn Manning who scored six points during the run. Alabama Christian led 38-20 at the half. The Eagles outscored BTW 27-13 in the second half for the easy 32 point triumph. One highlight of the final period was a Jaide Newkirk basket for her first points of her varsity career. Michaelyn Manning was the game’s leading scorer with 24 points with five assists, five steals and three rebounds. Katie Chappell scored 12 points with eight rebounds, six steals and three assists while Izzy Warrick had 11 points with four rebounds.

Cayla Schofield blocks a BTW shot.

ACA continues play this week as they travel to Thorsby Thursday night.

Looking back 15 years to the 2005-06 girls basketball team, we caught up with Carlie Ainsworth Henry to talk about her time at Alabama Christian and what she is doing these days. The 2005-06 team finished with a 23-5 record as they won the Area title for the fourth year in a row and advanced to the Regionals for the sixth consecutive year. The junior led the team in scoring averaging 17.7 per game and hit 76.0% of her free throws on the year, which is the second best mark all time for a season. Ainsworth was named second team all-state and was the Montgomery Advertiser 1A-3A All-Metro Player of the Year.

What year did you graduate from Alabama Christian? 2007

What grades did you attend at Alabama Christian? K-12

What is your favorite memory of Alabama Christian? 2007 State Softball Championship. If I could relive any high school memory, it would be that one. The girls, the coaches, the fans and the atmosphere were all a dream! That day will forever be listed among the "good ole' days".

What is your favorite basketball memory? It is impossible for me to pick just one. Rivalry games against conference teams, like St. James or MA, summer camps, tournaments in North Alabama every year, and "Coming Home" all come to mind. Oh and the final four in 2005. Even though we didn't come home with a trophy, it was an incredible season and playing in the arena for the Final Four was an experience I will never forget.

 Who took you under their wing when you joined the varsity team? Leah Sirmon, Coach Goodman and Coach Cager. They invested a lot of time in me. They stayed after practice with me for extra reps, reviewed film with me, but most of all they believed in me. There were times I doubted if I was ready for the Varsity level. They didn't let me sit in that doubt. They pushed me and encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone. That encouragement kick-started my basketball career.

Who was your most memorable teammate? Aside from Leah, I would have to say the 2004 seniors. I was the youngest on the team that year, and I remember looking up to and admiring that group of girls, not only for their God-given athletic ability, but also for their leadership, camaraderie and character.  They created a fun atmosphere everywhere they went and always kept us laughing!

What teacher/coach had the most influence on you? Definitely my mom (Denise Ainsworth), but to be fair, I lived with her. That gives her an unfair advantage. :) All jokes aside, the state of Alabama knows what a great coach she was. She helped mold me into not only the athlete I was, but also the woman I am today. She coached fiercely and continues to love deeply. She has mellowed out over the years, but I truly am thankful for the toughness she instilled in me at an early age. Lord knows we need it to endure life's curveballs.

 Did you continue playing basketball after high school? Yes, I played 4 years at Auburn University Montgomery.

 Where do you currently live? Helena, AL

What do you do for a living? Physical Therapist

Tell us about your family. I married my wonderful husband in June 2019 and our beautiful daughter was born in August 2020. She is almost 5 months old now and lights up our world! It truly is a beautiful life that I thank God for everyday!

Rapid Fire

Favorite TV show or movie : Friends

Dream vacation spot : Yellowstone or Fiji, depending on the day :)

Person I most admire : My dad. Anyone that knows me knows I have always been a "Daddy's girl". As my mom says, he is "the man behind the scenes". He is selfless, generous, kind, compassionate and one of the hardest working men you will ever meet. No matter what time, day or night, he stops what he is doing for anyone in need. 

Early morning or late night person : recently turned early morning person thanks to motherhood :)

Alabama or Auburn (or other) : Alabama

Lady Eagles Win Third in a Row Against Highland Home

ACA continued its winning ways Tuesday night with a 53-33 victory over Highland Home. Seniors Sarah Johnson and Michaelyn Manning each scored six points in the first quarter as the Lady Eagles led 12-6 after one period. Alabama Christian scored the first eight points of the second quarter and built a 26-14 lead heading into the locker room at the half. The offense slowed down in the third period as ACA did not score from the field for the first five minutes of the quarter, but the defense was able to keep the Squadron off the board to take a 35-22 lead to the final period. The Eagle offense picked up the pace in the fourth quarter and pulled away for the 53-33 triumph. Jaide Newkirk and Maddie Traywick both made their varsity debuts in the closing minutes of the contest. Four Eagles finished in double digits as Michaelyn Manning had 17 points with six steals, four assists and three rebounds. Katie Chappell scored 12 with nine rebounds while Sarah Johnson had 10 points, four rebounds and four steals and Izzy Warrick added 10 with six rebounds and four steals.

Izzy Warrick drives the lane against Highland Home.

In the second game of the evening both teams had trouble putting the ball in the bucket as Alabama Christian fell 43-38 to Highland Home. The Squadron led for the majority of the first half, but an Elijah Collins free throw with 18.8 seconds remaining in the half tied the game 16-16. ACA built a five point lead early in the third quarter, but Highland Home kept it close and trailed by two after three. Again, the Eagles jumped out to a five point lead with six minutes left in the game, but the offense stalled from there and ACA was outscored 12-2 down the stretch for the five point loss. Senior Jalen Clark had nine points with seven steals and three rebounds. Avery Stuart also had nine points with eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks while Braden Alford added eight points.

Elijah Collins draws a foul on the drive.

Alabama Christian next plays at St James on Friday night.

Alabama Christian Wins Both Games Against Holtville

The Lady Eagles continued their dominance over Holtville with a 53-18 drubbing of the Lady Bulldogs. After Holtville scored the first bucket of the game, ACA ran off 14 straight points and the game was essentially over. The Lady Eagles led 33-11 at the half and throttled down in the second half as they took off the press and played half court defense. Michaelyn Manning was the best player on the court and was one steal short of a triple-double as she led the Eagle attack with 20 points, ten rebounds, nine steals and six assists. Izzy Warrick scored 11 points with six rebounds and Katie Chappell added seven points with six rebounds and two assists.

Michaelyn Manning connects on two of her twenty points.

The boys avenged a loss from earlier in the season with a 55-45 win over the Bulldogs. After a Holtville sharp shooter (#5) hit two early three-pointers, Jalen Clark took the defensive assignment and did not allow him another three for the remainder of the game. Hayes Hunt put ACA ahead for good with a put back of his own miss late in the first quarter for a 9-8 lead. Caden Perry drained a three to give the Eagles their biggest lead of the first half with a 21-12 lead in the second period. Alabama Christian led 25-21 at the half. The Eagles opened the second half with back to back steals and layups to lead 29-21, seconds into the quarter. Holtville closed the gap to 29-27, but the Eagles led by five heading to the final period where they outscored Holtville 11-2 to take a 47-33 lead midway through the quarter. The Bulldogs scored ten of the next twelve points to cut the lead to 49-43 with 1:54 remaining. Avery Stuart scored the last six points for the Eagles as ACA held on for the victory. Stuart led the team with 21 points, 14 in the final quarter, with five rebounds and four steals. Jalen Clark scored 10 points with four rebounds and three assists while Braden Alford added seven points and two steals.

Avery Stuart races to the goal after a steal.

ACA hosts Highland Home Tuesday night in their next contests.

ACA Sweeps LAMP in Area Opener

Both the boys and girls teams begin Area play with a 1-0 record as Alabama Christian was victorious at LAMP on Friday night. The boys broke a ten game losing streak against LAMP and recorded the most points in a game this season in the 71-59 defeat of the Golden Tigers. The Eagles controlled the game in the first half and led 36-21 at the half. ACA stretched the lead in the third period and led 54-33 as they headed to the fourth. LAMP tried to get back in the game in the final period, but the Eagles had built too big a lead and walked away with the 71-59 victory. Caden Perry connected on all nine of his free throw attempts in the second half and led the offense with 25 points. Sophomore Avery Stuart scored 15 points while Preston Hicks added six and DeAndre Sneed contributed five points.

In the opener, the Lady Eagles beat LAMP for the fifth consecutive time with a 43-32 triumph over the Lady Tigers. The teams combined for 40 fouls and 55 free throws attempts in the physical game. Michaelyn Manning tied a school record with 19 free throw attempts in the contest. The game was close through the opening half as the Eagles held a 24-19 advantage after two quarters. In the third quarter Alabama Christian held LAMP without a field goal and increased the lead to 33-23 going to the fourth. The teams played evenly in the final period and the Lady Eagles went on to win 43-32. Manning was the game’s leading scorer with 22 points with 11 rebounds and four steals. Izzy Warrick scored seven points with six rebounds while Heather Ford had six points and sixteen rebounds.

Both teams begin a busy week as the host Holtville on Monday night.

Boys and Girls Lose at Home to Catholic

To look at the matchup on paper, the Lady Knights were bigger and more experienced than ACA and seemed to have an advantage over the Lady Eagles. Although the final score of 50-41 might indicate that Catholic won easily, it was anything but an easy win. The lead changed hands four times in the first quarter and Catholic led 12-11 after one. Catholic scored the first five points of the second quarter, but a three pointer by Sarah Johnson and a bucket by Michaelyn Manning cut the lead back to one. The two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half and ACA trailed 23-20 at the intermission. Catholic scored the first 12 points of the second half and it looked like the Lady Eagles had run out of gas, but they responded with a 17-4 run capped by a Katie Chappell bucket which cut the lead to 39-37 with six minutes remaining. Catholic handled the run and closed the game outscoring ACA 11-4 down the stretch for the 50-41 win. Sarah Johnson scored 11 points with seven rebounds and two assists as Katelyn Sutton had 11 with two steals. Izzy Warrick had nine points with three steals. Katie Chappell pulled down eight rebounds to lead the team.

In the nightcap, the boys faced a very athletic Catholic squad and were beaten 63-45. Midway through the first quarter, Avery Stuart scored to pull the Eagles to within four points of the Knights, 11-7, but Catholic scored the next 19 points to hold a 30-7 lead early in the second quarter. ACA actually outscored Catholic 38-33 for the remainder of the game, but the 19-0 run was too much to overcome. Sixteen points was as close as the Eagles could get through the rest of the game. Senior Braden Alford led the Eagles in scoring with 12 points and two rebounds. Caden Perry had nine points with six rebounds and two blocks while DeAndre Sneed had eight points with a rebound and a steal.

Both teams will visit LAMP on Friday to open Area play.

Eagles Finish Fourth in CCC Tournament

Alabama Christian won its first game in the Capital City Conference Holiday Tournament on Friday night against a short-handed MA squad to advance to the winner’s bracket for their next two contests. The Eagles held a 29-15 lead at the half, but managed only six points in the second half in the 35-33 victory over MA. Braden Alford led the Eagles with 11 points. Caden Perry had seven points, six rebounds and two blocks and Hayes Hunt added six points with five rebounds.

In the second game, ACA took on Trinity for the second time this season. Like the game on Friday night, the Eagles had a solid first half and led the Wildcats, 29-28, but the offense struggled in the second half producing only 12 points in the 51-41 loss. Caden Perry led all scorers with 18 points and Avery Stuart had 11 points while Hayes Hunt added nine points.

Hayes Hunt plays defense in the lane.

In the finale on Monday, ACA battled PCA in the third place game. The Eagles did not handle the PCA pressure in the opening period and trailed 15-4 after one. Although Alabama Christian outscored the Panthers over the final three quarters, the first quarter hole was too deep to overcome in the 58-51 loss. In the second half, the seven man rotation ACA used seemed to light a spark under the team with their strong play. Avery Stuart led ACA with 23 points, 21 in the second half, with eight rebounds and three steals. Caden Perry had 12 points while Hayes Hunt added 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

ACA (4-5) hosts Catholic on January 5th after the Christmas break for their next game.

ACA Defeats St James in Close Contest

The Eagles were looking for their third consecutive win on the young season as they hosted St James on Tuesday night and came away with the victory in a low scoring, tightly played contest, 38-36. The Trojans scored the first bucket of the night, but would never lead again after Braden Alford tied the game just over a minute into the contest. Although the Eagles led the rest of the night, they could build a lead no bigger than eight points due to the team’s poor free throw shooting. Luckily, St James could not take advantage as they suffered from the charity stripe as well. Both teams combined to miss 28 free throws on the night.

Jalen Clark glides to the basket for a layup.

ACA (3-2) led 22-18 at the half and stretched the lead to eight points at the end of the third quarter as Jalen Clark knocked down two free throws with no time on the clock after a Trojan foul. The Eagles would head to the final period with a 30-22 lead. The offense scored just two points over the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter and held a slim 32-30 lead with 52.2 seconds remaining in the game. Over the last 52 seconds the two teams committed ten fouls and the game became a free throw shooting contest. The Eagles connected on six of ten free throws and the Trojans only made four of ten in the final minute as ACA won by two points.

Hayes Hunt drives the baseline for a reverse layup.

Hayes Hunt led the Eagle attack with 12 points and had four rebounds and two blocks. Caden Perry scored eight points with eight rebounds and eight blocked shots. Jalen Clark finished the night with eight points, eight rebounds and five steals.

The Lady Eagles began a very difficult week of games with a hard fought loss to the Lady Trojans. At times, ACA (2-4) looked like the better team on the floor and bothered St James with their pressure. However, a second quarter injury took the focus off the game long enough for St James to take advantage and build a lead the Eagles could not overcome. Alabama Christian led 18-15 at the time of the injury, but the Lady Trojans scored the next 13 points in the quarter and took a 30-20 lead into the locker room at the half. ACA fought hard in the second half and cut the lead to two in the third period, but St James led 35-29 after three quarters and outscored the Lady Eagles in the fourth quarter for a 50-39 win over ACA.

Michaelyn Manning led all scorers with 17 points with seven rebounds and seven steals. Katelyn Sutton finished with seven points and two rebounds. Katie Chappell added six points with four rebounds and two steals while Sarah Johnson scored six points with two rebounds.

The Lady Eagles travel to MA on Thursday night for their next game and both teams will visit Trinity on Friday night.

Katie Chappell fights for a rebound.

Eagles Win Second Straight in Victory Over Samson

ACA dominated Friday night with a 50 point win over Samson, 64-14. The Eagles (2-2) led 41-5 at the half on their way to a dominating victory. Samson’s 14 points is the second fewest allowed by ACA in program history. Eleven players were able to score on the night as everyone was able to get quality playing time. Three Eagles hit double digits as Caden Perry led the team with 11 points while Hayes Hunt and Avery Stuart each scored 10 points. Jake Bailey scored seven points while six other players all scored four points.

The Lady Eagles opened the night with a loss to Samson, 61-35. The Lady Tigers built a 34-18 lead in the first half and ACA was unable to overcome the deficit. The Eagles (2-3) showed some fight in the third quarter, outscoring Samson 16-12 in the period, but in the end, Samson proved too strong for the Lady Eagles. Michaelyn Manning carried the offensive load on the night, scoring 19 of the team’s 35 points, including 12 points in the third quarter. Katie Chappell and Sarah Johnson each scored five points with Katelyn Sutton contributing four points.

ACA Varsity Teams Sweep Thorsby

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.

Eagles Beaten in Quarterfinals by American Christian

A magnificent season came to an end Friday night as ACA fell to American Christian, 38-7, in the quarterfinals of the State playoffs. Although tonight didn’t end the way the Eagles had hoped, they can hold their heads high and be proud of their accomplishments this year. The 2020 team tied the record for most wins in a season (10), longest winning streak (8) and advanced to the quarterfinals of the State playoffs for just the fourth time in program history.

American Christian won the toss and took the ball to open the game. After getting the ball on the Eagle 48 yard line, the Patriots scored in eight plays to take an early 7-0 lead. ACA responded and methodically drove the ball down the field, running clock and keeping the Patriot offense on the sidelines. The march covered 69 yards over 13 plays and ate up 7:49 of the first quarter clock. The offense converted two third downs and Otasowie Dion scored from eight yards away on another with 54.1 seconds left in the opening period to tie the game, 7-7. 

The second quarter began with the Eagles defense forcing a punt from American Christian. The key play of the series was a third down sack by senior Will Wright who overpowered the Patriot lineman for the eleven yard loss. ACA converted one fourth down on the next drive, but could not convert a second and turned the ball over on downs at the Patriot 39 yard line. American Christian kicked a 41 yard field goal on its next possession with 2:04 remaining in the half to take a 10-7 lead. As the Eagles tried to score late in the half, a holding penalty derailed the drive and after a 15 yard punt, the Patriots took over at midfield with only 32.8 seconds left in the second quarter. Unfortunately, that was more than enough time for a score. American Christian scored on the first play of the possession and took a 17-7 lead into the half. The late score seemed to turn the tide of the game.

Alabama Christian received the second half kickoff and hoped to get back in the game with a score on its opening drive. The Eagles picked up a couple of first downs and drove the ball to the American Christian 39 yard line. On 1st and 10 from there, Demari Moore appeared to give ACA the score they needed, but a holding call on the play negated the touchdown. Two plays later, Jalen Clark was sacked and the offense eventually had to punt the ball to the Patriots. American Christian left no doubt as to the outcome of the contest as they marched 69 yards in eight plays for a 24-7 advantage with 2:38 left in the third. American Christian would go on to score on its next two possessions of the half on drives of 72 and 41 yards, respectively. The last score came with 9:18 left in the game and gave the Patriots a commanding 38-7 lead. Over that same time, ACA picked up only one first down in three possessions as each drive ended with a punt. The offense did give one last effort at the end of the game as they drove 65 yards in 11 plays but the game ended with the ball on the American Christian one yard line.

Miller McCarthy, as he has done all year, led the defense with nine tackles and Jack Thomas had seven tackles. Demari Moore had four tackles while Otasowie Dion, Khalil Jackson and Trey Schlemmer each had three tackles. 

Jalen Clark ended the night completing 14 passes on 19 attempts for 90 yards. Corey Landers led the Eagles in rushing with 64 yards on 14 carries while Otasowie Dion had 54 yards on six carries and a touchdown. TJ Silmon led the receivers with three catches for 25 yards while Corey Landers had three receptions for 19 yards and Preston Hicks added three catches for eight yards. Hayes Hunt ended the game with two catches for 23 yards. 

Where Are They Now? - Trey Tew

Looking back 35 years to the 1985-86 boys basketball team, we caught up with Trey Tew to talk about his time at Alabama Christian and what he is doing these days. The 1985-86 team finished 11-16 on the season and advanced to the sub-regionals in Coach Ronnie Sewell's last full season with the team. Tew finished second on the team in scoring averaging 12.0 points per game while leading the team in free throw percentage hitting 73.0% of his free throws. The senior was also named to the Montgomery Advertiser All-Metro team.

What year did you graduate from Alabama Christian? 1986

What grades did you attend at Alabama Christian? 8th-12th

What is your favorite memory of Alabama Christian? Our basketball locker room my ninth grade year. We took over a storage area in the top of Faulkner’s gym and made it our own. It allowed our team to really bond. It was eventually taken away from us. We didn’t handle it very well and Coach Sewell let us know about it.

What is your favorite basketball memory? Winning the Area tournament my junior year.

Who took you under their wing when you joined the varsity team? Zane Tarance. He probably didn’t know he did anything. I just really liked the way he played and tried to be as good as he was.

Who was your most memorable teammate? It was actually in baseball. My senior year we had a seventh grader start every game for us. Dmitri Young went on to a solid MLB career. 

What teacher/coach had the most influence on you? Chris Goodman. He started coaching me in the eighth grade and coached me in a sport pretty much through high school. He expected a lot from us, but also took interest in us as people.

Where do you currently live? My wife, Patty, and I live in Dadeville, AL.

What do you do for a living? I’m the Managing Partner of Texas Roadhouse in Montgomery, AL.

Tell us about your family. My wife and I have four children. Paige is 30 years old and lives in Auburn. Blaike is 25 and lives in Prattville. Aaron is 29 and lives in Athens and Cameron is 25 and lives in Los Angeles. We also have a granddaughter, Brielle, and she is about to turn 10.

Rapid Fire

Favorite Food: Spaghetti

Pet Peeve: Punctuality

Person I'd most like to meet: Kenny Chesney

Ride or Drive: Drive

Alabama or Auburn (or other): RTR!!!!