The French Camp boys and girls basketball teams returned to action Tuesday following the Christmas break with games at Noxapater. It was the first Region 5-1A action of the season. The teams have region games at home Friday against Ethel.
“Before Christmas, I thought we were headed in the right direction,” said boys coach Robert Leathers. “You have to get everybody refocused. I'm hoping we can get there pretty quickly.”
The Lady Panthers ended 2019 on a high note, with victories over Hebron Christian and Winona, but were off for 25 days prior to the Noxapater game.
Region home games with West Lowndes scheduled for December 16 were postponed due to the threat of severe weather and rescheduled for Jan. 23.
Grace Christian girls take tourney title
By Laurence Hilliard
Choctaw Plaindealer
MERIDIAN – The Grace Christian School girls basketball team has won a tournament for the first time in history, according to school officials. The Lady Eagles bounced back from a loss to Laurel Home School to defeat the same team in the championship game of the Meridian Holiday Tournament hosted by Meridian Home School.
“We made few changes from when we lost to them. We tightened up our defense,” said Coach Talor Troyer.
The one-day, four-team tournament began with round-robin games, each with two 12-minute halves played with a running clock, resulting in low scoring. The Lady Eagles defeated Mt. Zion 13-6 and Meridian Home School 16-15 before losing to Laurel Home School 24-14.
Carly Peterson led Grace Christian against Meridian with 10 points, including a late game-winning basket.
“It went back and forth,” Troyer said. “We got up by one with a minute left and we played really smart and held the ball.”
Caroline Robbins had eight points and Aspen five against Mt Zion. Peterson and Robbins both scored five points in the loss to Laurel.
Laurel, with a 3-0 round robin record, and Grace Christian advanced to the championship game played under regular clock rules. There was a different result this time as Peterson scored 19 points and Robbins eight in a 38-29 victory.
“We run a very aggressive 2-3 zone defense,” Troyer said. “When you don't rotate correctly things open in the gaps.” Which is what happened the the first game with Laurel, but not in the rematch. “The girls were really aggressive. They took everything away,”
The Lady Eagles trailed by a point at the half. “There was a lot of fouling and we held our composure,” Troyer said.
The girls program was resumed last year after previous attempts failed. “The interest waned before it got off the ground.” said Grace Christian headmaster Jason Morgan. “Now with this coach and this group, I think it's going to stick. The interest is great. I think they have a bright future.”
