Hillsboro Christian Academy defeats Wilmington Christian

By Colin Ryan
The Highland County Press

WILMINGTON – The Hillsboro Christian Academy varsity basketball teams returned to action, facing off against Ross County Christian Academy at home on Jan. 16 and at Wilmington Christian Academy on Jan. 18.

The Crusaders defeated the Wilmington Christian Academy Lions 56-37. The Crusaders were led in scoring by seniors Bryson Wiley and Kellin Storer with 20 and 18 points. WCA was led in scoring by Andy Meyers with 15 points and Hunter Walls with ten points.

The Crusaders trailed early in the game, falling behind the Lions 13-07 after the first quarter. But the Crusaders came back to score 15 points in the second quarter, giving themselves a 22-19 lead going into the half. 

Junior Joshua Baggs scored three points for the Crusaders in the first quarter, with Wiley scoring four of his own. Wiley added six points to his total in the second quarter, with Storer scoring seven points and Colten Boggess scoring two.

The Crusaders best quarter offensively came in the third quarter as they scored 21 points. Wiley scored ten points in the third quarter, Storer added five points to his total, and three other players, Connor Henderson, Titus Howsman and Edward Rhonemus, each scored two.

The Crusaders entered the fourth quarter ahead 43-24. Storer finished off the game by scoring six points in the fourth quarter. Boggess added two more to his total, as did Baggs. Senior Aidan Young came in off the bench and scored the final three points for the Crusaders to give them the 56-37 win.

On Jan. 16, the Crusaders played host to the RCCA Eagles. The Crusaders lost the game on a shot by RCCA’s Sam Clevenger with .2 seconds on the clock remaining. The 63-62 loss for the Crusaders was the second loss to the Eagles on the season.

The Crusaders were led in scoring in the game against RCCA by Wiley with 22 points, Henderson with 17 points and Hayden Tong with 13 points.

The Crusaders fell behind to the Eagles early in the game 23-15. But the Crusaders managed to get a 36-34 lead at the half thanks in large part to the efforts of Henderson and Tong who led the Crusaders in scoring in the first half with eleven points each.Wiley and Baggs combined for the other 14 points for the Crusaders.

Wiley scored 14 points in the third quarter with four three-point baskets as the Crusaders extended their lead to 56-50. The Crusaders offense slowed down in the fourth as they managed only six points. The Eagles mounted a comeback and scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, with two points coming with .2 seconds on the clock to give them the lead and the win, 63-62.

The Lady Crusaders suffered their fourth loss of the season to the Lady Eagles on Jan. 16, 34-33. The Lady Crusaders were led in scoring by Lisa VanZant with 13 points and Emma Korte and Zayla Bourne with six points each. Rylee Elliot and Abby Bevan led the Lady Eagles in scoring with 15 points each.

The Lady Crusaders trailed early in the first quarter, falling behind 10-04, but held the Lady Eagles to only two points in the second quarter while scoring 13 points of their own. VanZant was the only player to score for the Lady Crusaders in the first quarter, but the second quarter saw four different players scoring including VanZant, Bourne, Korte and Annie Henderson.

The Lady Crusaders held onto the lead after the third quarter, ahead 29-21. Bourne, VanZant, Henderson and Kari Flowers each scored for the Lady Crusaders in the third quarter, totaling twelve points.

The Lady Crusaders managed only four points in the fourth quarter, two by Korte and Flowers each. The Lady Eagles took a one point lead with 22 seconds left on the clock. The Lady Crusaders managed to get three shots off, but none of the shots fell in as time expired. The Lady Crusaders fell short of their first win over the Lady Eagles, losing 34-33.

The Crusaders will face Chess Christian on Jan. 25 at home for their next varsity game. The Lady Crusaders will face Adams County Christian School at home on Jan. 30 for their next game.

Below Kellin Storer banks in the floater for HCA against Wilmington Christian Academy on Jan. 18.