Eagles Win Home Opener on Walk Off Hit by Mason Prestage

A blown lead in the last inning set the stage for Mason Prestage to win it for ACA against Reeltown on Saturday afternoon. After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, Alabama Christian scored five runs in the bottom of the second frame. JT Moorer, Zac Westbrook and Trey Schlemmer each drove in runs during the inning for the 5-1 lead. The offense did not score again until the bottom of the seventh after Reeltown had tied the game in the top half. Westbrook led off the rally with a walk then stole second and advanced to third on the bad throw on the next pitch. Schlemmer walked and took second on catcher’s indifference. The stage was set for Prestage to win it. On a 2-2 count the senior lined a double to center field to score Westbrook and give the Eagles a 6-5 win.

Mason Prestage waits on deck for his next at bat.

Prestage finished the game 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI while Thomas Stovall was 2 for 4 out of the leadoff spot. Schelmmer drove in two runs in the game and Westbrook drew three walks from Reeltown pitchers. Westbrook started on the mound for ACA and lasted 5 1/3 innings allowing just one earned run and struck out four Rebel batters. JT Moorer was the beneficiary of the Prestage double and picked up the win in relief.

Alabama Christian will host Trinity on Tuesday night in their next scheduled contest.

Eagles Fall to BTW-Tuskegee in Regionals

It took ACA almost a quarter to adjust to the gym, the noise and most importantly its opponent, but the Eagles came up just short in a 67-60 loss to BTW-Tuskegee. On three different occasions, Alabama Christian pulled to within a bucket of the Golden Eagles, but could never get the lead. The Eagles trailed by as many as 11 in the first period, but Avery Stuart scored the last two baskets of the quarter to cut the lead to 18-11 after the first eight minutes.

Avery Stuart looks for an opening against BTW.

Alabama Christian scored the first two points of the second quarter to cut the lead to 18-13, but then committed fouls on three straight defensive possessions that allowed BTW to score six points and open the lead to 24-13. ACA responded with a 10-0 run to cut the lead to one point as DeAndre Sneed, Braden Alford and Avery Stuart each scored in the outburst. After trading turnovers, the Eagles remarkably fouled on three straight possessions again and allowed the Golden Eagles to take a 31-23 lead. BTW led at the half, 34-25.

BTW scored the first eight points of the second half and it felt like the game might slip away, but to the Eagles credit they responded with an 18-3 run to pull within two points with just over a minute left in the third quarter. Caden Perry helped lead the charge with seven points during the run. The quarter ended with BTW leading 49-43. The Eagles pulled to within five points twice in the final period, but that was close as they could get. Alford hit the last basket of the game for the final margin of 67-60.

Jalen Clark drives to the basket.

Avery Stuart scored 20 points to lead the Eagles with five rebounds while Braden Alford had 11 points with five rebounds and three steals. Jalen Clark recorded another double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds with three steals and Caden Perry finished with 10 points and five rebounds.

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.

Alabama Christian Beats Bibb County to Advance to Regionals

Big time players step up in big time moments and that is exactly what Jalen Clark and Avery Stuart did Wednesday night as they led the Eagles to a 56-52 win over Bibb County. Clark, who has been a scorer his whole career, has not had to carry the offensive load this season, but he answered the call when needed in the Sub-regional game and Stuart continues to be a reliable offensive weapon for the ACA attack. The duo combined for 41 of the team’s 56 points in the 56-52 triumph.

Jalen Clark looks to break down his defender.

The Choctaws held an early 4-0 lead until Clark drained a three for the Eagles first points of the contest. ACA scored the last five points of the period on three Caden Perry free throws and a Clark stick back and led 13-8 at the end of one. Alabama Christian led 17-10 with 6:30 remaining in the half, but Bibb County pulled even by the half as the teams left the floor tied 26-26. ACA managed only eight points in the third quarter and trailed 39-32 late in the period when Braden Alford came up with a steal and drew a Choctaw foul at the buzzer to earn two chances at the free throw line. Standing alone on the court, the senior hit both attempts to trim the lead to 39-34. The momentum from that play did not last long as Bibb County grabbed its biggest lead of the night at 44-36 with 6:14 left in the contest. With 4:01 remaining and trailing 46-41, the Eagles finally got the run they needed as they scored nine consecutive points in 87 seconds to take a 50-46 lead. The run started with a Clark rebound of a missed free throw. The senior hit Stuart on the run for a basket and a foul. After the made free throw the lead was cut to two points and Stuart scored on the next two trips down the floor to give ACA a 48-46 advantage. Braden Alford forced a turnover and even though he missed the layup, Clark got the put back for the 50-46 lead with 2:34 left in the contest. Bibb County tied the game with 54.3 seconds remaining, but Avery Stuart knocked down two free throws with 37.1 seconds left on the clock. After ACA missed a pair of free throws, Bibb County had a chance to tie the game or take the lead, but Hayes Hunt blocked the Choctaw shot and saved the ball to Clark, who was fouled, with just 7.2 seconds remaining. Clark calmly hit the free throws for the 56-52 win and a trip to Regionals.

Avery Stuart takes the Choctaw defense to the basket.

Jalen Clark led all scorers with 22 points, 16 coming in the first half, and recorded a double-double with 11 rebounds. Avery Stuart carried the offensive load in the second half with 16 points after intermission, 14 in the fourth period, and finished the night with 19 points, three rebound and three blocks.

ACA advances to Regionals for the first time in 23 years and will travel to Tuskegee to take on Booker T Washington on Friday night.

Looking back 20 years to the 2001 baseball team, we caught up with Kyle Jackson to talk about his time at Alabama Christian and what he is doing these days. The 2001 team finished 21-11 on the season and reached the State quarterfinals under Coach Chris Goodman. Jackson was named the 1A-4A All-Metro Player of the Year as he led ACA with a .570 batting average in his senior season as he pitched and played second base for the Eagles. Teammate Dustin Davis was also named to the All-Metro team as a pitcher and Coach Goodman was named Coach of the Year.

Jackson and Nick Sewell talk between innings.

What year did you graduate from Alabama Christian? 2001

 What grades did you attend at Alabama Christian? 7th-12th

 What is your favorite memory of Alabama Christian? Winning the State title in 2000.

 What is your favorite baseball memory? Beating Geneva County in the 2000 playoffs. They beat us my sophomore year in a best 2 of 3 at their place.  It was a really hostile place to play. We got them the next year (2000) at our place. We beat them straight up in a one game winner take all. It was a very intense, close game. I think we wanted to beat them more than we wanted to win state. That game felt like a state championship game. 

 Who took you under their wing when you joined the varsity team? Bo Offord and Dave Davenport

 Who was your most memorable teammate? Honestly our senior class played together from 9th-12th grade, so it’s hard to say just one. Will Minter and I played the middle infield for 3 years together. He was a great player that never got recognized enough. Will was a great lead off hitter, always on base, great base runner, solid shortstop, and made every routine play. He was a good teammate. He never worried about himself or state, just winning. 

 What teacher/coach had the most influence on you? Coach Goodman gave me opportunities when games/seasons were on the line. I am thankful for those opportunities. He just let me play basketball and baseball. His only expectation of me was that I played hard. Coach Gilliam never let me slide and always pushed me to be better. He was a great encourager and knew how to get the best out of his players. I am thankful for him. A lot of how I approach life today has to do with both of those great coaches.  

Did you continue playing baseball after high school? Yes, I signed at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN.

 Where do you currently live? Columbus, GA

What do you do for a living? I am the Campus Pastor for Church of the Highlands Columbus.

 Tell us about your family. I have been married for 13 years to my beautiful wife Jennifer. We have 2 kids, Kaylee (7) & Cooper (3).

 Rapid Fire

Favorite TV show or movie : Remember the Titans

Dream vacation spot : Italy

Person I most admire : My dad

Early morning or late night person : - Neither. I’m all in from 7am-10pm.

Alabama or Auburn (or other) : Auburn

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.

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.