(Photo by Northside Christian Academy)
By Thomas Grant Jr.
Coming off a program record for victories, Northside Christian saw its girls basketball coach Jordan Leath and top three scorers now competing down the street at River Bluff.
Under new head coach Jamaal Brown, the Lady Crusaders are not missing a beat. Through Tuesday, they are off to a 5-1 start with a 2-point loss to Mountain View Prep as the lone blemish.
Sophomore guard Kaleigh Howell and junior forward Maddie Coker were both averaging 11.2 points per game through five games. As a team, Northside Christian Academy has five players averaging five or more rebounds with Catalina De La Pluz grabbing eight boards a game.
On defense, the Lady Crusaders are holding opponents to 27 points a contest. Seventh grader Haley Gause leads the team with three steals a contest.
Northside Christian Academy plays its next three games at home. It starts Friday against Laurence Manning Academy, followed by a 2:30 p.m. Saturday contest with Wilson Hall and a Tuesday matchup with Providence Athletic Club.
Meanwhile, the boys team looks to snap a 4-game losing streak against Wilson Hall this weekend.
RIVER BLUFF
The Lady Gators had its 2-game winning streak snapped in a 45-31 loss to Ridge View.
One of the transfers, junior guard Evie Godfrey was averaging 12.2 points, four assists and three steals a game. She had 17 points, five assists and three steals in a win against Lugoff-Elgin.
Fellow transfer Chaelyn Tifre is second in scoring at 11 points and eight rebounds a game. Freshman Campell Childers is averaging 10.2 rebounds a contest.
River Bluff has back-to-back road games this weekend against A.C. Flora Friday and Northwestern Saturday.
As of Tuesday, the boys’ basketball team were seeking its first win of the season. The Gators have played six straight home games to open the season and embark on a 3-game road stretch starting Friday at A.C. Flora.
GRAY COLLEGIATE ACADEMY
It’s ‘Bo’ time’ for the boys basketball team.
The War Eagles will compete in two games at the ‘Bojangles Bash’ at Ridge View High School. They will open Day Two at 6 p.m. against The Burlington School out of North Carolina.
The next day, the War Eagles will face another Tar Heel State school Davidson Day at 4:30 p.m.
This is Gray Collegiate’s first action since winning two games at Hoopfest Basketball in Dallas, Texas over the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Lady War Eagles traveled to Greenville Tuesday to face Legacy Early College. It’s a rematch from Dec. 5 when they rolled to a 54-32 win led by transfer Aneya Britt’s 29 points and 13 rebounds.
AIRPORT/BROOKLAND-CAYCE
The Eagles looked to snap a 3-game losing streak as it opens a 5-game homestand Wednesday against Mid-Carolina.
After winning the season-opener over Georgetown, the Lady Eagles have dropped three straight games. They look for their second win of the season against the Lady Rebels also on Wednesday.
The Brookland-Cayce boys return to action Friday at South Aiken. The Bearcats are 3-2 having posted wins over Legion Collegiate Academy, Orangeburg-Wilkinson and River Bluff.
In Brookland-Cayce’s last outing, it was defeated 54-43 by undefeated Dutch Fork.
The Lady Bearcats played host to Fort Dorchester Wednesday. They were 2-4 on the season with wins over Legion Collegiate Academy and Orangeburg Prep.
