ACCS rides defensive intensity to win

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 19, 2011

NATCHEZ — Wilkinson County Christian School entered Tuesday night’s game against Adams County Christian School with a shortage of players; they only dressed six.

Despite the lack of players, ACCS displayed no shortage of defensive pressure. That defensive mentality helped ACCS to a 46-29 victory over the Rams.

Defensively, ACCS was too much for the six players that WCCA had eligible. For three quarters, the Rams could not manage any consistent scoring runs. ACCS, without Daniel Guedon who suffered a thigh bruise, responded to the senior’s absence.

Email newsletter signup

“James and Cory did really well with Daniel Guedon out,” coach Rick Fife said. “Defensively we played really well. We had easy opportunities on offense.”

ACCS scored 15 points in each of the first two periods, building a 30-9 halftime lead. WCCA managed to score only one point in the first period.

Adding insult to injury, two WCCA players fouled out in the second half, Josh Gayle and Kyle Wilkerson, leaving them with four on the court.

ACCS used this opportunity to pass the ball around, using up as much of the clock as they could. By then, the game was out of reach.

“We found this a good opportunity to stall,” Fife said. “They played hard for four guys.”

The Rams did play hard in the fourth quarter while running a full-court press with four players against ACCS’s third team. Coach Fife immediately put his first string back in to get the game over with as WCCA was bringing the score closer.

WCCA had trouble shooting the ball against ACCS’s backcourt and also had a really hard time in the paint. They were not able to gather rebounds or score near the basket.

“Alvion and Goddard did great in the paint tonight,” Fife said.

With Guedon, AC’s tallest player, not in the game, it was important that the post players played well. Especially heading into tournament season.

James Moffett led ACCS with 13 points, Alvion Sampson had 12 and Ryan Goddard and Cory Emanuel each had eight.

ACCS girls 54,

WCCA girls 16

ACCS’s girls did what they do best, which is play defense, en route to a big win against the WCCA Lady Rams.

“We picked up our defensive intensity in the second quarter and scored 16 points in four minutes,” coach Melanie Hall said.

ACCS managed only nine points in the first period while allowing only two to the Rams. In the second period, the Lady Rebels scored 22.

“If you play defense, make layups and make free throws, you can compete every night,” Hall said. “To God be the glory.”

ACCS cruised to victory over WCCA while not allowing double-digit scores in any quarter. WCCA’s best quarter was the third, in which they scored seven.

ACCS’ leading scorer was Nikki Reynolds who managed 17 points and Brandice White who scored 14 to go along with her 10 rebounds and eight assists. White was two assists shy of a triple-double.

The Lady Rebels are 17-4 overall and 6-1 in district.