Week in Review - Guthrie Notches First Win as ACA Coach

Augusta Guthrie picked up her first win of the season as the leader of the Lady Eagle program in a 41-23 victory at Thorsby on Thursday night. Alabama Christian faithful hope this is the first of many wins in the long tenure of Coach Guthrie as she leads the girl’s basketball program. The girls lost two out of three as they had a busy week coming off Thanksgiving break. The boys lost both games they played this week.

Coach Guthrie talks to her team during a timeout.

The week began with a Tuesday matchup against MA. Only the girls played on Tuesday due to MA still being in the football playoffs, although they managed to field a team for their own Thanksgiving tournament the previous week. MA is a perennial power in girls basketball and they dominated the game from the opening tip. The visiting Eagles scored the first eleven points of the game and led 17-1 after a quarter. Katie Chappell closed the first half with back-to-back buckets but ACA still trailed 27-8 at the break. The deficit grew in the second half and the Lady Eagles were beaten 52-17. Izzy Warrick led the Eagles with seven points, four rebounds and four steals. Katie Chappell and Rachel Rine each scored four points while Chappell pulled down a team high eight rebounds.

Izzy Warrick drives for two.

The Lady Eagles hit the road for the first time this season on Thursday night with a visit to Thorsby. The Rebel’s gym was barely bigger than the court as about twelve inches separated the baseline and the wall. The Rebel offense was Arctic Circle cold in the first half as they scored just one bucket from the field. ACA did not take advantage of the anemic offense and led just 14-4 at the break. Rachel Rine came off the bench to spark the squad and scored eight of the team’s fourteen first half points, including a four-point play on her very first shot. The Eagles led 12-1 after one period, but managed only two points in the second quarter for the ten-point halftime lead. The two teams played evenly in the third period as ACA increased its lead by just one point, to 22-11, headed into the final quarter. Katie Chappell scored four of the team’s eight points in the quarter to help keep the lead in double digits. The two teams combined to score just 33 points over the first three quarters, but exploded in the fourth period to combine for 31 points. The Rebels cut the lead to 27-22 halfway through the period, but ACA responded with a 14-1 run to finish the game for the 41-23 triumph. The Lady Eagles moved the ball and found the post to pull away late as four of the last six baskets were assisted. Rachel Rine led the team with 14 points followed by Izzy Warrick with 11 points, four rebounds and four steals. Katie Chappell finished with six points and a team high eleven rebounds while Katelyn Sutton led the squad with six assists.

Rachel Rine takes a shot against Thorsby.

After nine days off, the boys team played Thorsby on Thursday night and the rust showed. The team could not put together an extended stretch of winning basketball and it cost them in the 66-48 loss to the Rebels. The game was close through the first two quarters as the 28-21 advantage Thorsby had at the half was the biggest lead for either team. Avery Stuart put the team ahead, 10-9, for the last time with a little more than two minutes left in the first period. With the game tied 14-14, Thorsby closed the first half on a 14-7 run to take the lead into the locker room. The Eagles showed a spark of life to start the second half as Devin Mosely scored and Gerrod Green added a free throw after a steal in the first forty seconds of the period to cut the lead to four points. The home team scored the next nine points over the next two minutes as ACA committed two turnovers and gave up three offensive rebounds during the stretch. Isaac Warrick and Stuart combined for six consecutive points to cut the score to 30-37 for the last serious run the Eagles had on the night. Thorsby led 47-34 after three quarters and led by double figures throughout the final period. Avery Stuart finished with 28 points and three rebounds. Isaac Warrick had eight points, eight rebounds and three steals while Gerrod Green had eight points, seven rebounds and five steals.  

Avery Stuart hammers one at Thorsby.

The week ended with both varsity teams hosting Highland Home. In the girls game, points were hard to come by as the teams combined to miss 35 free throws on the night. Jaide Newkirk carried the offensive load as she scored eight of the team’s eleven first half points. Highland Home outscored the Eagles 11-2 to start the second half to build a 26-13 lead with three minutes left in the third period. ACA cut the lead to five late in the game, but missed several key free throws to prevent them from getting any closer. The Squadron did just enough to record the 37-30 road win. Jaide Newkirk led all scorers with 19 points with eight rebounds. Rachel Rine finished with five points, four rebounds and three steals while Katie Chappell had four points, thirteen rebounds and three assists.

Jaide Newkirk lays in two of her team high nineteen points.

The boys game pitted a very big, confident team in Highland Home against the Eagles who are still trying to find an identity this season. ACA kept it close in the first quarter as Avery Stuart hit two threes early to keep it tight. The Squadron led 20-15 at the end of the quarter. The game got away from Alabama Christian in the second quarter as Highland Home blanked the home team 18-0 over the first six minutes of the period. The lead had ballooned to 42-19 by halftime in favor of the visitors. The second half was much of the same and Highland Home cruised to a 73-43 win over Alabama Christian. Avery Stuart was the top scorer with 15 points while Gerrod Green had eleven and D’andre Sneed had eight points.

D’andre Sneed goes coast to coast for two against Highland Home.

Both squads will host St James and Trinity next week.

ACA Opens Varsity Basketball Schedule

Alabama Christian opened the Varsity basketball season Friday night as the boys and girls hosted Marbury. The Bulldogs were a late replacement on the schedule due to Highland Home still being in the football playoffs. Both Eagle teams will look much different in 2021/2022. Second year coach Steven Thomas has only two players returning from last year's squad on the boys team as six players graduated and three decided not to participate this season. The girls have a new coaching staff as Augusta Guthrie takes the reins, assisted by Spenser Cantrell. Both coaches played college ball at Faulkner. The Lady Eagles will be very young this season as seven of the eleven players are freshmen.

Jaide Newkirk brings in a rebound in the middle of the Marbury team.

The Lady Bulldogs reached the 5A Final Four last year and ACA would have their hands full against a quality opponent. The game was close in the opening quarter as Katie Chappell put the Eagles up 9-8 on a feed from Rachel Rine with just over two minutes left in the period. Chappell scored seven of the nine points in the first as Marbury led 13-9 headed to the second quarter. Marbury subbed a new five in the second period, which might have been their starters, and they cruised to a 40-15 lead at the half as they outscored the Eagles 27-6 in the quarter. Alabama Christian continued to fight in the second half and outscored the Lady Dawgs 17-11 in the third period. The Eagles got as close as sixteen down at 45-29 after Katelyn Sutton, Izzy Warrick and Jaide Newkirk scored on three consecutive possessions. Marbury led by nineteen at the end of the third and went on to beat ACA 67-40.

Izzy Warrick gets ready on defense.

Katie Chappell opened her senior season with a double-double as she led the squad with 19 points and 16 rebounds with four steals. Newcomer Rachel Rine scored seven points with a team high four assists while Jaide Newkirk and Izzy Warrick each scored five points.

The boys game was tight throughout as neither team led by more than seven points. After allowing Marbury to score the first five points of the game, ACA chipped away at the lead and tied the game 9-9 after Gerrod Green had a steal and a bucket. Mason Kimbro hit a basket at the end of the quarter to give Alabama Christian a 14-13 advantage after a quarter. The Bulldogs outscored ACA 9-1 to start the second period, but the Eagles quickly tied it after back-to-back threes by Avery Stuart. Three more buckets gave ACA its biggest lead at 30-23 late in the half. Marbury hit three free throws in the final ninety seconds to close the gap to 30-26 at the half.

Avery Stuart tips off the season against Marbury.

Marbury retook the lead midway through the third period and the lead changed hands four times over the final four minutes of the quarter as Marbury led 43-38 after three. The Eagles had to fight the whole fourth quarter to climb their way back in it after falling behind 47-40 with 6:33 left in the game. The home team got as close as one point down, but could never take the lead back. Twice, the Eagles had chances to take the lead with the ball, but failed to score both times. Marbury outscored Alabama Christian 5-0 over the final 26 seconds to pull out the 62-55 victory.

Gerrod Green scores two from close range.

Avery Stuart led the team with 18 points with seven rebounds and three steals. Gerrod Green scored 14 points with seven steals and five boards. Mason Kimbro and Clay Williams both scored eight on the night as Williams also collected five rebounds.

Both teams will play in a Thanksgiving tournament hosted by Alabama Christian next week.

ACA's Post Season Run Ends at St James

Alabama Christian met with a familiar foe in the Regionals on Thursday night for a chance to advance to the Regional finals. The Lady Eagles season ended with a 62-30 loss to St James. Michaelyn Manning scored the first points of the game and from that point on, the game belonged to the Lady Trojans. St James scored the next 13 points and led 19-9 after a quarter. ACA turned the ball over 12 times in the period to help the home team gain the advantage. Sarah Johnson hit a three to start the second quarter, but St James scored six of the next eight points and led by double digits for the rest of the night. The Trojans led 33-18 at the half. The second half went much the same way as St James outscored the Eagles 29-12 in the second half for the 62-30 win.

Michaelyn Manning drives against the St James defense.

Michaelyn Manning led the team in scoring in her final game as an Eagle with 12 points and added three rebounds despite foul trouble in the game. Manning finished her career with 872 points scored and ranks sixth on the all-time scoring list in program history. The senior guard averaged 16.3 points per game this season, which is the most by any Lady Eagle since 2009. Katelyn Sutton scored six points with three rebounds while Katie Chappell finished with five points and eight rebounds.

ACA Advances to Regional with Victory Over Montevallo

As Alabama Christian hosted a Sub-regional game for the first time since 2010, the Lady Eagles were led to victory by their three seniors, Heather Ford, Sarah Johnson and Michaelyn Manning, in the most complete game of the season. Montevallo never got a handle on the pressure defense put on by ACA and were harassed all afternoon by the Eagles. Ford was a presence in the post, on offense and defense, and did a great job finding open shooters for several easy baskets. Johnson drew the toughest defensive assignment of the night and bothered the Bulldog’s best player for the entire contest. Manning was the offensive spark and applied plenty of pressure on the Montevallo ball handlers. The trio combined for ten assists and helped the offense by keeping the ball moving as they found open teammates.

Sarah Johnson shoots a baseline jumper against Montevallo.

ACA set the tone on the very first possession as Izzy Warrick had the first of twenty Eagle steals in the contest. The Lady Eagles scored the first seven points of the game and led 17-8 at the end of one. Alabama Christian only managed seven points in the second period, but still led Montevallo 24-17 at the break. In the third quarter, ACA broke the game open as Warrick scored eight points during a 12-0 run to start the half. Late in the period, Alabama Christian built its biggest lead of the night after a Manning basket that made the score 42-21. The Lady Eagles maintained a healthy cushion through the final quarter for the 50-31 win.

Michaelyn Manning drives through the Bulldog defense.

Michaelyn Manning was the game’s leading scorer with 23 points along with eight steals and four rebounds. Manning passed Shannon Sims to move into sixth place on the Lady Eagle career scoring list. Izzy Warrick scored a season high 14 points with six rebounds and four steals. Sarah Johnson finished with six points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds.

Alabama Christian advances to the Regional round for the first time since 2007 as they visit St James on Thursday night, February 18th.

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.

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.

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.

Alabama Christian Drops Two to Loachapoaka in Home Opener

As ACA hosted Loachapoaka Tuesday night, the boys were looking for their first win of the year for Coach Steven Thomas while the Lady Eagles were looking to stay unbeaten on the young season. Neither team reached its goal as the Indians beat Alabama Christian 54-32 in the girls game and 54-50 in the boys game.

The Lady Eagles (1-1) stayed close in the first quarter with Loachapoaka, trailing 14-9 heading to the second. However, the Lady Indians outscored ACA 18-6 in the second period and built a commanding 32-15 lead heading into the half. ACA was only able to get as close as 13 points in the second half and Loachapoaka defeated the Lady Eagles 54-32. Michaelyn Manning led the offense with 13 points and five assists. Katie Chappell had five points with five rebounds and four steals while Heather Ford scored five points with five rebounds and two blocks.

In the boys game, ACA (0-2) was close early in the game, but the Indians finished the opening quarter with an 11-1 run to take a 17-4 lead after the first. The Indian lead stayed around ten points through the second and third quarters and entered the final period with a 46-34 advantage. The Eagles gained some life in the fourth quarter and cut the lead to 54-50 on a Braden Alford basket with over three minutes left to go in the contest. Both teams were scoreless over the last three plus minutes of the game and the game ended with a Loachapoaka 54-50 victory. Alford led the ACA attack with 17 points while Caden Perry scored 13 points and Landon Hunton added seven points.

The Lady Eagles next game will be at Catholic on Monday, November 23rd while the boys are taking the thanksgiving break off and will not play again until December 1st.

Girls Win and Boys Lose in Holtville to Open Season

The 2020/2021 basketball season opened Monday night as Alabama Christian hit the road to play long time foe, Holtville. The schools first met in December of 1967 and ACA holds a 38-35 advantage in the series. With potentially three starters still playing football, the Eagles would be shorthanded against the Bulldogs. Holtville led by eleven points at the end of the first and the Eagles were never able to cut the lead to single digits over the final three quarters. Holtville would eventually win 62-42.

Caden Perry led the Eagles (0-1) in scoring with 13 points with 14 rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Braden Alford had a tough night from the field, but was 7 for 8 from the free throw line to finish with 12 points. Landon Hunton added eight points

The Lady Eagles (1-0) have dominated the series against Holtville over the years and have won all 30 of the previous contests played. The Lady Bulldogs have always struggled to score points against ACA and that trend continued in the season opener as the Eagles prevailed 54-21. ACA started slowly and held a slim 9-6 lead midway through the opening quarter, but the defense sparked a 26-6 run with full court pressure and the game was in hand by halftime. Five Lady Eagles made their varsity debuts against Holtville as Tia Coker, Ashlyn Harris, Lynleigh Stephen, Katelyn Sutton and Izzy Warrick all saw playing time on the night.

Katie Chappell led all scorers with 16 points and added six steals and three rebounds. Michaelyn Manning scored 13 points with five steals while Katelyn Sutton contributed 10 points with four steals. Sarah Johnson and Lynleigh Stephen each scored six points.

Both squads will play their home opener Tuesday night against Loachapoaka.

ACA Loses to Catholic in Area Tournament

The fourth meeting of the year between ACA (12-15) and Catholic looked very similar to the previous three as both teams struggled to score in a 39-26 victory for Lady Knights. The Eagles offense had struggled to break 30 points over their last four games and continued to scuffle Tuesday night against Catholic. Alabama Christian trailed 17-8 at the half and were not able to catch the Knights in the second half. The Lady Eagles got as close as 25-21 in the fourth quarter, but Catholic finished the game on a 14-5 run to end the Eagles season. Michaelyn Manning led the offense with eight points while Rose Costanza added six points. Senior Mary Hall ended her career with two points.