STEENS — Heritage Academy and Immanuel Center for Christian Education are separated by about six miles.
The Patriots must have felt the Rams’ long-range shots covered that distance Monday night.
Immanuel Christian made eight 3-pointers and dominated in the post to record a 69-59 win in a non-district boys basketball game.
In the first varsity game, the Heritage Academy girls earned a 49-18 victory.
Much to the delight of a rocking student section, Immanuel Christian’s Ross Moore opened the game by hitting back-to-back 3-pointers in the first minute. The Rams (8-1) used the fast start to build a 13-4 lead.
Trailing 18-10, Heritage Academy (3-3) responded thanks to the play of Garrett Hall and defense of Cade Lott. Their efforts sparked a 12-2 run that helped the Patriots take a 22-20 lead.
The Rams fought back and took a 26-23 halftime lead.
“We tried to keep them off balance,” Immanuel sophomore guard Darrius Jones said. “Our shots were falling early. We moved the ball well around the 2-3 zone. Once they started defending the 3-point line, we had to do something different.”
After combining for 49 first-half points, the teams combined for 79 points in the second half. The Rams showed why they are the state’s sixth-ranked team by overhauling their offensive game plan and moving the ball inside with consistency.
“We are a very athletic team,” Immanuel Christian coach Billy Thomas said. “These guys are fast and quick. They can go at this pace for four quarters. We had so much foul trouble tonight, we had to pull out some. Finally with the game on the line, we had to do what we do.
“Heritage is a great half-court defensive team. Once we got the court spread out it led to some good stops on defense and easy baskets in transition. That gave us the lead for good.”
Behind the spirited play of Taylor Fields, the Patriots battled back for leads of 35-33, 38-36, and 40-39. The Rams responded with the game’s next 14 points, as they created chaos at midcourt that led to multiple drives to the basket.
“We didn’t give up,” said Moore, a senior forward. “We had foul trouble and it really changed what we wanted to do. Once we began to press, it caused some turnovers and led to some fast-break points. Once we got the court spread out and they had to defend us all over the place, we were in good shape.”
Moore worked his way to the free-throw line on four of five possessions to the end the third quarter. He hit 6 of 9 foul shots as his team scored the final eight points of the third quarter for a 47-40 lead.
Immanuel Christian’s Jason Davis scored two of his team’s first three baskets to start the fourth quarter. The second score capped a 14-0 run that gave the Rams a 53-40 lead with 7 minutes, 5 seconds left in the contest.
“Our shooters were hitting real good in the first half,” Thomas said. “We knew they would be covered in the second half. It was a matter of us being able to do other things. Once we got them turned over a couple of times, it shifted the momentum in our favor. That was the game plan.
“Fortunately, these guys were able to carry it out.”
Immanuel Christian took advantage when Heritage Academy couldn’t find an offensive rhythm. Jones and Davis played most of the fourth quarter with four fouls, but neither fouled out. The Rams kept the pressure up and ran the lead to as many as 16 on Moore’s final 3-pointer with about two minutes remaining.
“We work real hard every day,” Jones said. “Since we started playing together this summer, the focus has been on having a great year. We are beginning to get comfortable with ourselves. As long as we keep pushing ourselves and keep getting better, this team has unlimited potential.”
Davis had a team-high 21 points, while Moore had 20 and Jones had 15, including a 4-of-6 night from 3-point range.
After a season-opening loss to Caledonia, Immanuel Christian has reeled off eight straight victories. With a move up due to realignment, the Rams are looking forward to being a factor in Class AA. Tonight, Immanuel Christian will play host to new district rival Oak Hill and will play Friday at tenth-ranked district rival Leake Academy.
“Oak Hill is a very tough team,” Thomas said. “We have always played them, but now it’s a conference game. We are off to a 3-0 start in conference play, so (tonight) is really big. It is a lot like playing Heritage. These guys run around together away from school. They go to church together, o everybody knows everybody.
“We play each other a lot during the summer. These games are always a challenge because you play a little harder when you are playing somebody you know. This is a great a start to a hard week for us.”
Despite the hectic schedule, Moore feels like he and his teammates will be ready.
“We just have to get a little rest and keep our feet under us,” Moore said. “As long as we keep moving the ball around and have good team work, we will be all right. Our main thing is hustling. When we are running and playing hard, we always have a chance to win.”
Heritage received 18 points from Lott and nine points apiece from Hudson Bean and Brad Dickey.
In the opener, Heritage girls coach Yolanda Moore complimented her team for playing “its most complete game of the year.”
“I was pleased with the overall effort,” Moore said. “We came out more aggressive than we have any other game this year. We finally have all of our players back on the court. We still have a long way to go, but I am very pleased with the progress of this team.
“If we continue to get better, we will be right where need to be.”
Behind the inside presence of Shiloh Ellis and Ashley Washington, the Lady Patriots built a 15-2 advantage. The Rams scored the final four points to close within 15-6 after one quarter.
Both teams were sluggish through the second quarter as each team only made two field goals. Heritage held a 20-11 advantage at halftime.
In the second half, the Lady Patriots placed the defense on total lockdown. The ability to force some turnovers and run the open floor allowed Heritage to blow the contest wide open. The Lady Patriots opened the game’s final half on a 14-1 run removing all doubt from the contest.
“We knew they were going to double- and triple-team Rachel Hollivay,” Moore said. “That means we have to do other things on offense. I was really proud of Shiloh for stepping up and making some shots. Ashley did a great job on the offensive boards keeping some possessions alive.
“Our kids played very hard. We had some second stringers come in there and do a great job on the defensive end. Our defense all around was really great.”
Heritage Academy (2-4) received 11 points apiece from Hollivay and Washington. Immanuel (7-2) received four points each from Bailey Edwards (five rebounds), Kaitlyn Shreiner (four rebounds), and Mary Katherine Good (two rebounds).
Heritage Academy won the girls junior varsity game 31-21. Haley Good had five points, three rebounds, and two steals, Keri Ann Hutcherson had five points, two rebounds, and two steals, and Michelle Swaim had five points, two rebounds, and six steals for the Lady Rams (2-4).
n In other games Monday, Corey Dawkins had 12 points and four rebounds to lead Pickens Academy to a 36-19 victory against Tuscaloosa Academy.
Marianna Pratt had 10 points, and Elisabeth Hankins had nine points and four rebounds for the Lady Pirates (3-1).
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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