Eagles Lose Close One to Elmore County

After a rainout on Thursday, ACA closed out the week with a contest against Elmore County in the FCA/Jason Armstrong tournament. Once again, the Eagles got good starting pitching and solid defensive play, but the bats continued to struggle. Alabama Christian had chances to tie it up late in the game but came up just short in the 3-4 defeat.

Starter Hayes Hunt set down the Panthers with just six pitches in the first inning and posted another zero in the second. ACA had multiple runners on base in each of the first three innings, but could not plate a run. Elmore County scored three in the bottom of the third for the first runs of the game. The Eagles answered in the fourth with a two-out single from Hunt to score William Milner and again in the fifth as Hunter Barfoot scored on a dropped third strike.

Elmore County hit back-to-back doubles to open their half of the fifth to make the score 4-2. Neither team scored in the sixth which meant ACA needed two runs to extend the game in the final inning. The frame began with a Preston Hicks walk and Hunter Barfoot thought he did too on four straight balls, but the umpire said it was just 3-0 and made Hicks go back to first even though he should have been awarded the base because it was a live ball. Luckily, Barfoot walked on the next pitch and the Panther reliever was pulled from the game. However, the new pitcher lasted for only one batter and was pulled after another walk. With the bases loaded and no outs, ACA looked poised to tie the game, at a minimum, but managed just one run and fell by the final score of 3-4.

Hunter Barfoot led the offense with two hits in three at-bats with a walk. Hayes Hunt and Jud Graham each collected a hit with an RBI in the contest. Hunt picked up the loss but had a strong outing with seven strikeouts with just one walk over six innings.

Alabama Christian will be busy next week with four games. The week will start with a visit from Trinity on Monday.

ACA Drops Opener in Armstrong Tournament

There’s more than one way to get a batter out and two contrasting methods were on display as ACA tangled with Stanhope Elmore in the opening game of the FCA Jason Armstrong Tournament. Starting pitcher, Hunter Barfoot used movement and change of speeds while the hurler for the Mustangs tried to throw it through his catcher on almost every pitch. Barfoot matched zeroes for four innings although the score read 1-0 in favor of Stanhope. The Mustangs were the beneficiary of a blown call at first in the third which resulted in their first run. If umpires were assessed runs for bad calls, the first run of the game would have been charged to the one in the field. In the fifth, Stanhope Elmore hit two solo shots to extend the lead to 3-0.

Neither team recorded a hit until the botched call at first which produced the first safety of the game for the Mustangs. The Eagle’s bats were silenced by the opposing pitcher as the Eagles never had more than one base runner on in an inning. ACA only had two real shots to score but came up empty both times. In the second inning, Ari Bowman was hit by a pitch and after a stolen base was moved to third on a groundout by Jud Graham. Next, William Milner hit a grounder to second, but with the infield playing in, Bowman was thrown out at the plate. In the sixth, and trailing by three runs, Hunter Barfoot singled to right with two outs, but Landon Nelson was thrown out at home to end the inning.

In a game where pitching and defense were going to have to shine, Alabama Christian played their best game of the year. However, the bats could not match the strong pitching performance of the Mustangs. Hunter Barfoot pitched five innings with two strikeouts and had the team’s only hit on the day. Mac Moorer pitched a scoreless sixth in relief. Eight different fielders recorded outs in the contest with just one error.

Alabama Christian will next play Holtville Thursday evening at Riverwalk Stadium. 

Alabama Christian Steamrolls Jeff Davis in Saturday Afternoon Contest

ACA played a rare non-tournament matinee game against Jeff Davis on Saturday. The two foes met Tuesday and the result was the same in Saturday’s matchup. The Eagles won easily 19-1 as they visited Peter Crump Field. The nineteen runs were the most scored by ACA since 2013. The Volunteer pitchers allowed a bevy of runners as they walked ten men and hit seven more.

Despite the lopsided final score, the game was tied 1-1 after an inning. Hayes Hunt scored from third on a wild pitch and Jeff Davis doubled a runner in for their only run of the day. In the second inning, the visitors scored five runs highlighted by a Hunt hit that drove in a run. The other four runs scored on an error, a groundout, another error and a wild pitch. After Preston Hicks pitched a three up, three down second inning, ACA scored five more runs in the third. Six of the first eight batters reached base via a hit by pitch or a walk. Jud Graham drove in the final run of the frame with a single up the middle that scored Mac Moorer.

Hicks struck out the side in the third as Jeff Davis finally made it all the way through the batting order. With a comfortable lead, Alabama Christian swung the bat freely in the fourth and scored eight more runs in the process. Hayes Hunt, Landon Nelson and Ari Bowman each had run-producing hits to stretch the lead to 14-1. Jackson McGuire was hit by a pitch with the bases juiced for the team’s fifteenth run. William Milner and David Ortiz-Ramirez knocked in two more runs while Kaleb Hopkins and Mac Moorer drove in runs with a walk and a hit by pitch, respectively. Bowman took the hill to close out the game and was effectively wild with two hit batters of his own and three strikeouts.

Preston Hicks earned the win on the mound with seven strikeouts over three innings while giving up just one hit. Hayes Hunt finished 2 for 2 with a walk and a double with three RBIs and four runs scored. Hunt’s four runs scored tied a single-game record held by a host of Eagles that was last accomplished by Thomas Stovall just last season. Jud Graham and David Ortiz-Ramirez both went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Landon Nelson drove in two while Ortiz-Ramirez and Mac Moorer each scored three runs.

Alabama Christian will participate in the annual FCA tournament next week and will face Stanhope Elmore Wednesday afternoon. 

ACA Soccer Month in Review

The 2023 soccer season began February 7th for both varsity squads with a visit to Wetumpka. For the month, the girls had a 2-3-1 record with victories over Brew Tech and BTW-Magnet and a tie with Stanhope Elmore. The Lady Eagles were beaten by Wetumpka, Houston Academy and Trinity. In the Trinity match, goalkeeper Marcy Gregory set a new school record with 51 saves. 

Presley Lewis leads the team with nine goals on the year, including a team-high six against BTW in a 10-0 shutout. Chloe Jordan has three goals while Olivia Justiss has two. Jordan leads the team with six assists and assisted all three of Lewis’ scores in a 4-1 defeat of Brew Tech. Marcy Gregory has kept the net in every game but one and has averaged 26 saves per contest. Alyssa Valentine was in goal for the season opener against Wetumpka and recorded 23 saves.

The boys finished February with a 1-5-1 record with a win over Lanier and a tie with Carrol. The team lost to Wetumpka (twice), Trinity, Catholic and Brew Tech. The highlight of the season was a 9-0 blanking of Lanier. Tommy Sutterfield found the net five times on the night while Wes Peake scored twice and Aiden Lee and Marcus Kim each scored once. 

Sutterfield leads the team with nine goals and had scored every goal on the season until the Lanier match. Emmett Sanford has played goalie in every game and has averaged just over eight saves per game.

Alabama Christian Defeats Lee in Five Innings

ACA played the second of three games this week against MPS teams as they played host to Lee on Thursday. The home team defeated the Generals 11-1 in five innings to improve to 3-2 on the young season. 

Starting pitcher Landon Nelson allowed the first three batters to reach without the benefit of a hit to start the game but responded with three straight punch outs to wiggle off the hook. The righty pitcher struck out the side over the next two frames for a total of nine consecutive whiffs. The Eagles got on the scoreboard in the second inning starting with Jackson McGuire’s RBI groundout. Nelson singled in the second run and Preston Hicks hit a double over the left fielder's head to run the score to 4-0. 

After a scoreless third, ACA scored five runs in the fourth to blow the game open. Two hit batsmen and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Landon Nelson drove in two with a single to center for a 6-0 lead. Hunter Barfoot and Ari Bowman both drove in additional runs as the lead ballooned to 9-0. Lee scored one on a solo shot in the top of the fifth, but the Eagles scored two in the bottom half to end it in five. Preston Hicks whistled the game-winning hit by the pitcher’s ear to walk it off for the home team.

Landon Nelson picked up the win with ten strikeouts over four innings not allowing a General hit. Nelson and Preston Hicks both had two hits and drove in three runs to lead the offense. Hayes Hunt continued to get on base with three runs scored from the leadoff spot. Mac Moorer and Nelson both scored twice.

ACA next plays Saturday afternoon against Jeff Davis as they try to complete an undefeated week. Alabama Christian’s game against Trinity, scheduled for Friday, was canceled. 

ACA Too Much for Jeff Davis

ACA cruised to a 16-1 win over visiting Jeff Davis in a three-inning run-rule game Monday night. The Eagles exploded for twelve runs in the second frame to blow the game open. The Volunteer’s six errors helped Alabama Christian to the easy triumph.

Hayes Hunt retired Jeff Davis on nine pitches in the first and then helped his own cause with a hit and the first run of the game. Like Hunt, Landon Nelson scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead. Despite having two runners on and no outs, the Eagles failed to score again and led by two runs after one. Once again, Hunt set the Vols down quickly and the cascade of runs was about to begin for the home team. With one out in the second, eleven consecutive batters reached safely for Alabama Christian as sixteen Eagles in all batted. Hunt, Preston Hicks, Jud Graham, David Ortiz-Ramirez and Hunter Barfoot all drove in runs in the marathon inning. Jeff Davis managed to scratch across a run in the top of the third, but ACA plated two on an infield error in the bottom half for the 16-1 victory.  

Hayes Hunt allowed just one hit and struck out five in three innings to earn the win on the mound. The senior also paced the offense as he produced two hits in three at-bats with two RBIs and three runs scored. Preston Hicks and David Ortiz-Ramirez both drove in three runs while Landon Nelson scored three runs on the night.

Alabama Christian hosts Lee Thursday night in its next contest.

Alabama Christian Splits with Tallassee for First Win of the Season

Alabama Christian picked up its first win of the 2023 season as they split two with Tallassee Thursday night. ACA broke an 11-11 tie in the top of the sixth inning of game one with two runs and held the Tigers off in their final two at-bats for a 13-11 win. In the nightcap, the teams were tied 3-3 in the fourth, but the game slipped away from the Eagles as Tallassee prevailed 10-5.

After the first two batters of game one recorded outs, ACA hit five singles in a row to take a 4-0 lead. Preston Hicks delivered the first hit as the pitcher failed to cover after a diving stop by the first baseman. Hunter Barfoot, Judson Graham and William Milner each delivered run-scoring hits in the frame. After allowing a run to the home team, the Eagles scored six more runs in the second for a seemingly comfortable 10-1 cushion. Hayes Hunt tripled in David Ortiz-Ramirez and later scored on a passed ball. After Barfoot drove in his second run of the game on a groundout and Mac Moorer drew a bases-loaded walk, Ortiz-Ramirez delivered a two-run single for the nine-run lead.

Tallassee chipped away at the lead with seven runs over the next two innings to cut the score to 10-8. ACA stretched the lead to three runs as they scored on an infield error in the fourth. Mac Moorer took the hill in the fourth in relief of starter Hunter Barfoot and left two men stranded in scoring position with a strikeout to end the inning. In the fifth, Tallassee tied the game at eleven apiece, but the game remained even as Judson Graham picked off a runner at first for the second out and the third out came on a popup to Preston Hicks. ACA regained the lead in the sixth as a Hayes Hunt single drove in a run and a Landon Nelson sac fly drove in another. Moorer quieted the Tiger bats over the final two innings to pick up the win in relief. After Tallassee tied the game in the fifth, the sophomore pitcher retired eight of the next nine batters to secure the victory. 

Four Eagles, Hayes Hunt, Preston Hicks, Ari Bowman and David Ortiz-Ramirez, each had two hits to lead the offense. Hunt, Ortiz-Ramirez and Hunter Barfoot each drove in two runs while six different Eagles scored two runs.

Game two had a much different feel to it as the home plate umpire employed an “it’s been a long day” strike zone as neither team scored over the first two innings. Once the batters grew accustomed to the zone, the bats came to life. ACA trailed 3-1 after three and managed to tie the game in the fourth as they manufactured one run on a sac bunt and scored the second one on a flair to shallow right field by Landon Nelson. Tallassee answered with four runs in the bottom half and three more in the sixth as ACA could not keep up. The home team was happy to trade runs for outs in the last inning as Alabama Christian scored twice, but it was not enough. 

The offense managed just three hits in the second game. Hayes Hunt doubled while Landon Nelson and Hunter Barfoot both singled. Hunt finished the game 1 for 2 with two walks, a stolen base and two runs scored.  

ACA Drops Season Opener to Catholic

There is nothing quite like a baseball season opening day. Alabama Christian opened the year with its oldest in-town rival. ACA first played Catholic in 1970 and the series continued Tuesday night in a tightly contested game. The Eagles fell 12-13 to the Knights but provided plenty of highlights in the back-and-forth affair. Senior Preston Hicks homered in his first two at-bats and was never given a chance for a third as the Catholic coaching staff intentionally walked him in his next three plate appearances. Hayes Hunt went 4 for 4 with a triple from the leadoff spot and scored three times.

After giving up three runs in the top of the first, ACA responded with three themselves to draw even. Preston Hicks delivered two of the runs with a laser shot over the center field fence. With two outs in the second, Hicks struck again with a three-run shot to right center to help the Eagles take a 7-3 lead after two frames. Catholic scored two runs in the fourth, but Hunter Barfoot answered the call after a Hicks intentional pass by putting the ball in play and plating two runs. 

Hayes Hunt reached his pitch limit after four innings and it was up to the bullpen to hold the lead. Catholic tied the game in the fifth and scored four more in the sixth to take a 13-9 lead to the seventh. ACA did not go away without a fight as they cut the lead to one run. Judson Graham scored the first run on a bases-loaded wild pitch, Grant Cornette scored on a bases-loaded intentional walk to Hicks, and Mac Moorer scored on a Hunter Barfoot walk to cut the lead to 12-13. Catholic was able to record the last out and hold on for the win.

Preston Hicks finished the night with six RBIs while going 2 for 2 with three walks. Landon Nelson was 2 for 5 while Ati Bowman scored three runs and Hunter Barfoot drove in three.

The Eagles continue play with a doubleheader at Tallassee Thursday, February 23rd.

Rachel Rine Makes Lasting Impact on Program in Just Two Years

Rachel Rine came to Alabama Christian last year as a junior and immediately stepped in as a major contributor to the team. As a junior, Rine led the team in scoring as well as made three-pointers, 3-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage. This year, as the team’s only senior, she continued to play a pivotal role on the team as she finished second on the team in scoring and led the team in assists and free throw percentage.

In only two seasons, Rine’s name is all over the ACA record book. She finished her career with 566 points which rank 18th all-time. Her point total is the second most in school history for any player who played just two years at Alabama Christian. Rine’s 11.6 points per game average ranks fifth best all-time and her 58 made threes rank 14th on the career list. She ranks ninth in free throw makes and 19th in free throw attempts and her 68.8 free throw percentage is fifth best in program history. Despite her short time at the school, Rachel Rine will be remembered for her play on the court for years to come.

ACA 2022-23 Season Recap

Like the girl’s team, Coach Jim Sanderson’s first year saw his squad double their win total from last year with eight wins. There were many questions heading into the season with a new coach and several key players leaving the program over the past couple of years, but Coach Sanderson found ten willing to give it all they had every night. The team played with an intensity lacking last season and improved greatly over the course of the year. 

The last week of the regular season saw the team win three straight games. The team might have played its best game in the Area tournament as they gave top-seed St James everything they could handle before falling 42-54. Although the Eagles graduate three seniors, ninety percent of the offense came from underclassmen which bodes well for the future. Sophomore Mac Moorer’s sixty-made threes this year is the tenth most in a season for the Eagles.

This year’s team leaders are:

Points per game: Christian Snipes (11.4), Mac Moorer (9.9), Darius Gardner (6.3)

Rebounds: Christian Snipes (5.3), Darius Gardner (4.9), Tyree Saadiq (4.0)

Assists: Tyree Saadiq (3.4), Darius Gardner (1.2), Mac Moorer (1.1)

Steals: Tyree Saadiq (2.0), Darius Gardner (1.2), Mac Moorer (1.1)

Blocks: Darius Gardenr (0.8), Conner Mark (0.4), Christian Snipes (0.4)

Field goal percentage: Mac Moorer (44.1%), Christian Snipes (43.4%), Darius Gardner (41.1%)

3-point field goal percentage: Mac Moorer (35.0%), Devin Mosesley (28.0%), Conner Mark (27.1%)

Free throw percentage: Christian Snipes (70.4%), Darius Gardner (68.2%), Jayden Jones (63.6%)

ACA 2022-23 Season Recap

Coach Spenser Cantrell’s first year brought great improvement to the girl’s program as the squad doubled the number of wins from last season. The Lady Eagles swept MA for the first time since 2009, in Area play. ACA finished 12-14 on the season and is poised to improve next year as the team will only lose one to graduation. Although senior Rachel Rine was a primary option for the offense this year, the other four starters are ready to carry the extra offensive responsibility into next season. 

A trio of sophomores, Jaide Newkirk, Izzy Warrick, and Katelyn Sutton are already making their mark on the program as each player has scored at least 400 points in their careers and ranks in the Top 40 in points scored in school history. Newkirk ranks 21st with 547 points and ranks seventh in career free throws attempted and eighth in career free throws made. Her 87 free throws made this season are the tenth most in program history. Warrick ranks 29th with 486 career points. Sutton ranks 38th with 423 career points and ranks ninth in career three-pointers made.

This year’s team leaders are:

Points per game: Jaide Newkirk (12.3), Rachel Rine (11.8), Katelyn Sutton (8.4)

Rebounds: Jaide Newkirk (8.2), Rachel Rine (5.5), Izzy Warrick (5.2)

Assists: Rachel Rine (3.2), Katelyn Sutton (2.9), Izzy Warrick (1.0)

Steals: Kately Sutton (3.0), Izzy Warrick (2.3), Rachel Rine (2.0)

Blocks: Jaide Newkirk (1.3), Campbell Hammett (0.4), Izzy Warrick (0.3)

Field goal percentage: Jaide Newkirk (42.3%), Rachel Rine (35.6%), Campbell Hammett (31.2%)

3-point field goal percentage: Kately Sutton (19.7%), Rachel Rine (19.6%), Izzy Warrick (19.5%)

Free throw percentage: Rachel Rine (68.8%), Katelyn Sutton (59.3%), Jaide Newkirk (55.1%)

Alabama Christian Overpowers Pike Liberal

The Lady Eagles finished the week with their third consecutive win in a 60-22 trouncing of Pike Liberal. ACA handled the Patriots easily in their previous meeting and continued the domination in the rematch. Rachel Rine came out firing with ten first-quarter points to lead the offense as the squad played well with no turnovers in the period. Alabama Christian led 15-4 after one and the outcome was already known to all. ACA eased the pressure defense in the second until the last ninety seconds of the half. The Eagles jumped back into the press and scored a quick five points for a 30-7 halftime lead. Addison Smith, Rine and Jaide Newkirk all made defensive plays which led to points in the defensive blitz.

Five different players scored in the third as ACA extended the lead to 42-12. Normally the clock runs continuously once a team is down by thirty, but the officials were in a hurry as they started the practice toward the end of the third. In the final period, Pike Liberal heated up, relatively speaking, with ten fourth-quarter points almost doubling their point total. The game ended in a fitting manner as the lone senior, Rachel Rine, scored the team’s last two buckets in the last home game of the year.

Rine led the team with 20 points along with four rebounds and two assists. Izzy Warrick finished with 11 points and three steals while Jaide Newkirk had nine points, eight rebounds, five steals and three blocks. Campbell Hammett scored eight with nine rebounds.

The Lady Eagles play St James at Trinity Monday night in the Area tournament. 

ACA Defeats Pike Liberal to End Regular Season

In the previous meeting a month ago, Pike Liberal left the gym feeling good about themselves and were not afraid to crow about it in the six-point win over ACA. The visiting Patriots left the Alabama Christian gym shell-shocked Friday night after taking a 55-27 beating. The Eagles ran circles around the visitors in a convincing victory.

Mac Moorer hit a trio of threes to help stake the Eagles to a 13-2 lead midway through the opening period. ACA closed the quarter with a set play that ended with Sam Davidson finding Darius Gardner in the lane for a layup and a 19-7 advantage heading to the second. Alabama Christian turned up the defensive pressure in the second as they forced nine Patriot turnovers and outscored the visitors 24-9 in the quarter. Jayden Jones led the offense with eight points in the period as seven different players scored in the half.

The Eagles held Pike Liberal scoreless for over six minutes in the third quarter as they built a 49-16 cushion. For the second time in a week, ACA took the air out of the ball and slowed the pace to run the clock out. Like the victory formation in a football game, the Alabama Christian faithful know a win is right around the corner when the offense spreads the floor and works the clock. Mac Moorer scored twice and Jayden Jones once for the team’s only points as the team took just five shots over the final eight minutes.

Mac Moorer was the game’s leading scorer with 20 points. Jayden Jones scored ten points with two rebounds, assists and blocks while Tyree Saadiq finished the night with eight points, five assists, five steals and four rebounds. Darius Gardner controlled the boards with nine rebounds and contributed four assists and two blocked shots.

ACA plays in the Area tournament on Tuesday night against the host team, St James. 

Alabama Christian Wins Overtime Thriller at Notasulga

What the girl’s game lacked in intensity and drama, the boy’s game more than made up for it. The Eagles were able to withstand the Blue Devil's charge in the second half to force overtime and then took the victory in the extra period, 50-49.

ACA looked good early as they jumped out to an 8-3 lead highlighted by treys from Mac Moorer and Christian Snipes. Notasulga tied the game 9-9 midway through the quarter, but the Eagles answered with a 9-0 run that extended into the second period. Conner Mark ended the run with a three to build an 18-9 advantage. After Notasulga hit a long one, Moorer connected twice to give ACA its largest lead of the night at twelve points. The teams traded baskets in the last minute of the half as Alabama Christian left the floor with a 26-16 lead at the break. Moorer paced the team with 13 points in the half.

The home team came out in the second half and increased the defensive pressure to help build momentum and stir up the fans. At the end of the third, the teams traded threes like two heavyweights trading punches trying for the knockout. Down 30-33, Notasulga tied the game and then took the lead after an ACA turnover with another bomb. Now down by three, the Eagles punched back with a Mac Moorer basket to tie it and took a 39-37 lead to the fourth on another Moorer three.

The fourth period stayed close as neither team led by more than three points. Late in the quarter, Sam Davidson cut the deficit to one point as he scored on a putback off a missed layup for his only score of the night. With 2:10 left, the Blue Devils seemed content to run the clock, but became impatient and launched an ill-advised three that was rebounded by Darius Gardner. As the shot left the player’s hand, the coach from Notasulga could be heard yelling “Why?!?”. ACA missed a shot and gave up a score to trail 43-46 with less than a minute left. Tyree Saadiq found Christian Snipes for a clutch three with 25 seconds left to tie the game and eventually force overtime. Notasulga held for the last shot and did not get a good look as the buzzer sounded.

In the extra session, Notasulga’s first possession ended on the foul line, but two misses later, the game was still tied. After a turnover on its second possession, the Blue Devils ended up on the line again only to miss two more freebies. With 2:14 left in overtime, neither team had scored. ACA finally broke through as Darius Gardner rebounded a Mac Moorer miss and drew a foul. Gardner hit both chances at the line for a 48-46 lead with 2:06 remaining. Notasulga scored with 1:25 left with a chance for the lead on the and-one opportunity but again missed the free throw to leave the game tied. Both teams turned the ball over on their next possessions as the tension mounted. After an ACA timeout, Conner Mark asked the official if he could move as he inbounded. The official said no and shook his head, but moved his arm back and forth like the signal to be able to move. Mark did move on the inbound attempt and was called for a turnover due to the poor communication he received. Notasulga took advantage and was fouled on the next play. The home team made one of two for a 49-48 lead with 46.7 seconds left. ACA called timeout with 20.6 seconds left to set up the winning play. Conner Mark found himself on the left baseline and with a shot fake moved closer to the basket to make a runner with just 8.0 seconds left on the clock. Notasulga called timeout twice in the final seconds desperate to get a shot off but were unable as Gardner stole the ball to end the game.

Mac Moorer scored 22 points to lead the offense with six rebounds and a blocked shot. Christian Snipes finished with 12 points, including the three that forced overtime, and two rebounds. Darius Gardner had eight points and a team-high 14 rebounds. Conner Mark ended the night with five points, the biggest being the game-winner in overtime.

ACA closes out the regular season at home against Pike Liberal on Friday night.

ACA Cruises to an Easy Victory Over Notasulga

For the second time this week, the Lady Eagles won easily as they defeated Notasulga 69-15, Thursday night. Alabama Christian led 15-1 after a quarter and the outcome was never in doubt. Katelyn Sutton scored seven of the team’s first eleven points to give the Eagles an 11-0 lead with 3:15 left in the period. After a Blue Devil free throw, Jaide Newkirk and Rachel Rine scored to give ACA the fourteen-point lead after one. Newkirk and Sutton teamed up in the second quarter to score 19 of the team’s 24 points to help stretch the lead to 39-10 at the half.

The officials seemed determined to get ACA out of the press as they called three fouls in forty-seven seconds against the Eagles. Fortunately, it did not help Notasulga as they missed all four free throw attempts. The balled move well in the third as four of the seven made field goals were assisted. Maddie Traywick closed the period with back-to-back scores to build a 57-12 lead for the visitors. The fourth moved quickly with a running clock, but the team played hard all the way through. Izzy Warrick was all over the place as she dominated the boards and dove for any loose balls in her vicinity. She even carried one of the opponents as she was fouled when one of the Notasulga players jumped on her back. The sophomore finished the scoring with two free throws in the fifty-four-point lopsided triumph.

Katelyn Sutton led the Eagles and outscored the opponent with 24 points and contributed seven assists, six steals and five rebounds to the team. Jaide Newkirk and Izzy Warrick both had double-doubles as Newkirk finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds and Warrick had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lady Eagles close the regular season Friday night against Pike Liberal.

Alabama Christian Snaps Long Losing Streak on Senior Night

ACA began the final week of the regular season with victories. Both teams celebrated Senior Night with dominating wins over Ellwood Christian from Selma.

Boys

Cole Barsukoff started Senior Night with a bang as he nailed a three on the team’s first possession. Mac Moorer scored the next seven ACA points to extend the lead to 10-4. Darius Gardner closed the scoring in the quarter as Alabama Christian led 12-5 after one. The home team heated up in the second and closed the half on a 14-2 run to stretch the lead to 34-10 at the break. Moorer’s long-distance shooting was featured in the period as he totaled 22 points in the first half.

The second half flew by as both teams took their time on offense in the lopsided game. Christian Snipes, Mac Moorer, and Jayden Jones scored all thirteen points in the third period to give ACA the lead by a score of 47-14. The offense was slowed down in the third, but in the fourth, it was put in neutral and left to idle as Alabama Christian decided to just run the clock. Over the final six minutes of the contest, ACA had two possessions and took one shot as they played keep away from Ellwood. The Eagles triumphed in the end, 51-16.

Mac Moorer outscored the opponent with 26 points on the night with seven steals and two assists. Christian Snipes had eight points, three rebounds and two steals while Jayden Jones had five points and two rebounds.

Girls

Rachel Rine, the team’s lone senior, led the team in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals to spark a blowout, 72-29. The guard finished with nineteen points, twelve rebounds, eight steals and seven assists.

It took the Lady Eagles almost two minutes to score their first points, but once they did the rout was on. Jaide Newkirk and Katelyn Sutton scored the team’s first eleven points for an 11-2 lead midway through the quarter. The period ended with a 20-6 advantage as Rachel Rine and Marcy Gregory scored for the Eagles. Rine scored the first four points of the second and ended the first half with 14 points as ACA built a 37-18 lead at the half.

The lead continued to grow in the third as Campbell Hammett got the hot hand with eight points in the quarter. The bench erupted with the biggest cheer of the night as Marcy Gregory hit a three from the corner for a 49-18 lead. ACA led by thirty-eight after three quarters. The running clock in the fourth made the game fly by, but the Lady Eagles did manage to extend the lead even further. Addison Smith scored the last bucket of the night in a 72-29 annihilation of Ellwood.

Three more Eagles scored in double figures as Katelyn Sutton finished with 13 points, four assists and two steals. Jaide Newkirk had 11 points and 10 rebounds while Campbell Hammett scored eleven with two rebounds. Marcy Gregory also had a career-high seven points.

Both teams travel to Notasulga on Thursday. 

Lady Eagles Sweep Season Series with MA

Girls

Alabama Christian defeated MA for the second time this season with a 39-31 triumph over the Area foe. Both offenses struggled to score, but ACA did enough on to take home the victory on their own floor. Jaide Newkirk scored on the first possession of the game, but the Eagles managed just one more score the rest of the period. MA built an 8-4 lead after one as the home Eagles did not score over the last five minutes of the quarter. Newkirk scored four quick points to open the second tying the score, 8-8. ACA scored the final six points of the half highlighted by a Rachel Rine bomb to take a 17-11 lead into the locker room.

ACA would never trail in the second half although MA did cut the lead to two points a couple of times. Izzy Warrick and Katelyn Sutton each scored to start the second half to build a 21-11 lead. The duo closed the quarter as Sutton found Warrick for a score to give the Lady Eagles their biggest lead of the night, 29-18. MA scored at the buzzer to cut the lead to nine heading to the fourth. Senior Rachel Rine was injured near the end of the third and the offense sputtered for a while in her absence. ACA failed to score over a five minute stretch that covered parts of the third and fourth quarters. The visitors cut the score to 29-27 before Jaide Newkirk scored to extend the lead to four points. Sutton took the reins from there and guided the team through the final minutes contributing to the team’s final eight points. The sophomore guard assisted on the next two baskets and drained a three herself after grabbing two offensive rebounds earlier in the possession. 

Jaide Newkirk led the squad in scoring with 14 points and added six rebounds and a block. Izzy Warrick scored 11 points, 10 in the second half, with five steals and four rebounds. Katelyn Sutton had nine points, eight in the second half, with eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals.

Boys

The boys capped the night with a hard fought effort against MA, but in the end fell 44-55. ACA trailed by just two points midway through the fourth, but were unable to score down the stretch. Neither offense was clicking in a methodical opening period as the teams shot a combined 6 for 25 from the floor. MA led 7-6 after one. Devin Moseley connected from deep to open the second to give ACA its first lead of the game. Conner Mark and Christian Snipes also dialed long distance with threes to help keep the game close. Alabama Christian led 21-19 at the half.

ACA led for most of the third as Jayden Jones and Darius Gardner combined for 12 of the team’s 14 points in the quarter. MA hit a three with 1:08 left in the period to take a lead they would not relinquish. The home team was able to tie the game at 43 apiece as Tyree Saadiq found Christian Snipes for a score, but mustered just a single point the rest of the game as MA finally pulled away for the eleven point victory.

A trio of players scored eleven points to lead the offense. Christian Snipes had eleven with seven rebounds and two assists. Jayden Jones had five rebounds to go along with his eleven points and Darius Gardner finished with eleven points, two blocks, and two assists.

Alabama Christian Halts Losing Streak to MA

Girls

ACA stopped a fifteen-game losing streak to MA with a 47-38 victory on the road. The officials had no intention of going home as they whistled 55 fouls in the game. The two opponents combined for seventy free throw attempts while five players fouled out. ACA made at least thirty free throws in a game for just the second time in program history and the forty-one attempts tied for third-most ever in a game. The team shot 73% from the stripe.

Rachel Rine and Jaide Newkirk scored the first five points of the night to give the visitors the early lead. MA cut the lead to one by the end of the quarter and took their only lead with a basket to start the second. Rine answered on the next possession with a three and Alabama Christian never trailed again. MA managed to keep the game close and trailed 25-22 at the break.

Both teams left the offense in the locker room in the third period. Neither team scored for almost three minutes until Jaide Newkirk broke the seal on the goal with a score in the lane. The teams combined for just six points in the third. MA got as close as five points with 57.9 seconds left in the game, but Rachel Rine clinched the win with six straight made free throws over the final 38.6 seconds.

Rachel Rine broke her own single-game record she shared with Carlie Ainsworth with fourteen made free throws in the contest. The senior led the team with 25 points and seven rebounds. Katelyn Sutton finished with nine points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals while Jaide Newkirk had eight points, four rebounds and two blocks.

Boys

ACA fell on the road 47-61 against MA Tuesday night. At the end of the first period, Devin Moseley and Jayden Jones hit back-to-back buckets to tie the score, 10-10, with less than a minute to go. The visitors gave up a three and then turned the ball over against the press and fouled the MA shooter. After hitting one free throw, the home-standing Eagles led 14-10 heading to the second. Christian Snipes scored the first points of the second quarter, but MA responded with an 8-0 run to take a ten-point lead. The teams played evenly for the remainder of the half as Mac Moorer hit a trey to close the gap to 23-30 at halftime. 

MA stretched the lead to as much as sixteen in the third quarter as they began to take control of the game. Darius Gardner and Christian Snipes combined to score on three consecutive possessions at the end of the quarter, but MA scored on a putback at the buzzer to lead 47-35. ACA fought in the fourth, but were never able to get the deficit to single digits in the fourteen point loss.

Christian Snipes scored ten points to lead ACA withfour rebounds. Mac Moorer had nine points and two steals while Jayden Jones scored eight points with four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Both varsity squads travel to St James Friday night to continue Area play.

Lady Eagles Start New Year with a Blowout

Girls

Alabama Christian enjoyed an easy night on the court with a 59-13 demolition at Pike Liberal Friday night. The Eagles scored the games first twenty-two points in a contest that was never in doubt. The win evens the team’s record at 7-7.

Rachel Rine scored the night’s first points with an old fashioned three point play as she was fouled on the made bucket. All five starters scored in the period which was puncuated by Izzy Warrick’s three to close the quarter. Pike Liberal scored first in the second quarter, but ACA responded with fifteen consecutive points led by Katelyn Sutton, who scored eight points during the run. Alabama Christian led 40-5 at the break.

Jaide Newkirk highlighted the third quarter as she hit her first career 3-pointer as the Eagles expanded the lead to as much as forty-nine points. The fourth period had a running clock and all of the Eagle’s subs played the entire quarter. The final score was 59-13.

Katelyn Sutton led three Eagles in double figures with 14 points, two assists and two steals. Rachel Rine scored 13 points with seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals while Jaide Newkirk also scored 13 with six rebounds, three steals and three blocks.

The Lady Eagles open Area play in their next game as St James visits ACA on Tuesday, January 10th.

Boys

The boys game started like the girls game with ACA scoring the first five points of the game on a Mac Moorer three and a Darius Gardner two-pointer. Unfortunately, that would be the high point of the evening. The Eagles did not score a point over the next five minutes of the quarter as Pike Liberal scored ten points and never trailed again on the night. A basket at the first quarter buzzer and the first five points of the second gave the Patriots a 17-9 advantage. The teams played even the rest of the half as ACA trailed 17-25 at intermission.

Again in the second half, the Eagles scored the first five points and cut the Pike Liberal lead to three points. ACA would not score again in the period as the team managed just seven shots over the final five and a half minutes of the quarter. The Patriots led 36-22 after three as they scored the last eleven points. ACA fought in the fourth, but could get no closer than six points and fell 38-44.

Mac Moorer led the team with seven points and two assists. A trio of players scored six points. Jayden Jones had six with three rebounds, Christian Snipes had six with five rebounds, and Devin Mosely had six with three rebounds and three steals.

The Eagles next play PCA on Monday, January 9th, before opening Area play.

Lady Eagles Defeat Tallassee in a Close Game

Girls

In the first meeting, two weeks ago, ACA handled Tallassee easily with only six players. Tuesday night, the Eagles were short just one player and struggled to find an offensive rhythm all night. Senior Rachel Rine’s presence was definitely missed. 

Campbell Hammett scored the first points of the night and the two teams traded baskets throughout the opening period. The contest was tied 8-8 as neither team scored over the last two minutes of the quarter. Early in the second the visiting Tigers took their first lead of the game with an offensive rebound and score off a missed free throw. ACA tied the game on two different occasions, but could not regain the lead and trailed 19-20 at the intermission. Izzy Warrick and Jaide Newkirk each scored six points in the half to pace the offense.

The lead changed hands five times in the third period, but a pair of Katelyn Sutton free throws gave the home team the lead for good with 21.3 seconds left in the quarter. Izzy Warrick and Maddie Traywick scored the first two baskets of the final period to give ACA a 36-31 lead. Tallassee responded and tied the game 40-40 with just over a minute left in the game. Jaide Newkirk scored in the paint and Campbell Hammett made a steal and scored to make it 44-40. After Tallassee made one of two free throws, Hammett grabbed an offensive rebound on an Eagle missed freebie and scored to seal the game. The last four possessions of the game ended with both teams making one of two free throws and Alabama Christian hung on for the 48-43 victory.

Jaide Newkirk was the game’s leading scorer with 16 points as she dominated the inside with 18 rebounds and four blocks. Campbell Hammett added 11 points with four rebounds and three steals while Izzy Warrick had 10 points with four rebounds.

Boys

ACA came out on fire in the boy’s game as a bewildered Tallassee coach called his second timeout of the quarter with 3:11 left and his team trailing 13-2. Mac Moorer and Conner Mark combined for three made threes in the first five minutes of the game. The Tigers settled down and cut the lead to 15-8 by the end of the period. The end of the quarter saw the first of seven attempts to stall or hold for a last shot by the Tallassee coach. Although they would eventually win the game, the visitors only scored once when they tried to slow the pace. Tallassee scored the first ten points of the second period to take their first lead of the night, and would never trail again. ACA trailed 18-21 after two quarters.

The offenses for both teams disappeared in the third period as the two teams combined to make just seven shots from the floor as Tallassee outscored ACA 9-6 to extend the lead to six points. ACA continued to struggle as the Tigers pulled away in the fourth. Trailing by just three points, the Eagles gave up eleven straight points to trail 29-43. Both teams added a basket in the final two and a half minutes as Tallassee prevailed, 45-31.

Tyree Saadiq’s ten points led the offense with four rebounds and four assists. Conner Mark had seven points while Mac Moorer finished with six points. Mark, Moorer and Christian Snipes were all held scoreless in the second half. Darius Gardner led the team with five rebounds.