Hillsboro Christian Academy loses pair to Ross County Christian Academy
Hillsboro Christian Academy's Annie Henderson scores two of her team-leading nine points on this third quarter layup vs. RCCA Dec. 19. (HCP photos by Colin Ryan.)
By Colin Ryan/The HCP
CHILLICOTHE – The Hillsboro Christian Academy varsity basketball teams traveled to Ross County Christian Academy on Dec. 19 for a pair of games. Both the Crusaders and Lady Crusaders lost their games to RCCA. The Lady Crusaders lost for the third time to the Lady Eagles this season by a score of 44-20. The Crusaders lost to the Eagles by a final score of 62-59.
Leading scorers for the Lady Crusaders were Annie Henderson with nine points and Lisa VanZant with six.
The Lady Crusaders struggled to score throughout the first quarter, managing to put up only two points while the Lady Eagles scored 12 of their own. Emma Korte was the lone scorer for the Lady Crusaders in the opening quarter.
Three of the six points scored by the Lady Crusaders in the second quarter came from the free-throw line. VanZant was perfect from the line in the second, making both her shots. Henderson made one of her two shots from the charity stripe and sank a late quarter three-point basket.
The best quarter for the Lady Crusaders offensively was the third quarter as they scored eight points. Henderson and VanZant combined for seven of the eight points with Emma Barnett shooting one for two from the free-throw line.
Barnett led the Lady Crusaders in scoring in the fourth quarter with two points. Henderson and Vanzant each went one for two from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. The Lady Eagles led throughout the game and came away with their third victory against the Lady Crusaders 44-20.
Leading scorers for the Crusaders were Kellin Storer with 19 points and Hayden Tong with 13 points.
The Crusaders jumped out to an early lead against the Eagles, 21-07. Tong led the Crusaders offense in the first quarter with eleven points. Storer and Titus Howsman each scored four points in the opening quarter. Senior Edward Rhonemus scored two of his four points in the first quarter.
The Crusaders extended their lead by one point going into the half up 32-17. Sophomore Jonah Brannon led the Crusaders in scoring in the second quarter with three points. Storer, Joshua Baggs, Bryson Willey and Colten Boggess each scored two points in the second.
The Eagles made an adjustment to the Crusaders defense during halftime and mounted their comeback by scoring 24 points in the third quarter. Storer scored eleven of the 15 points for the Crusaders in the third quarter. Brannon and Willey each scored two points. The Crusaders still held on to the lead up 47-41 going into the fourth quarter.
The Eagles scored 22 points in the final quarter while the Crusaders managed to score only ten. Willey scored four points for the Crusaders while Brannon, Storer, Tong and Rhonemus each scored only two points. The Crusaders lost 62-59, despite leading by 15 points at the half.
The HCA Lady Crusaders next game will take place Dec. 27 in the Ripley High School Holiday Classic as they take on Bethel Tate High School. The HCA Crusaders next game will be Jan. 2 against Chess Christian.
Below, three of Hillsboro Christian Academy’s defenders (l-r) Bryson Willey, Hayden Tong and Edward Rhonemus prepare to guard the basket in the second half.
