Hillsboro Christian Academy wins fifth straight EBC Tournament
The Hillsboro Christian Academy junior varsity Crusaders pose with their fifth straight EBC Tournament trophy: (back, l-r) assistant coach Fred Boggess, assistant coach Zach Robb, Jonah Brannon, Nathanael Massie, Hayden Tong, Colton “Booger” Boggess, Cody McKee and head coach Tyler Tomera; (front, l-r) Dathan Mountjoy, Titus Howsman, Gavin Howsman and Peyton Mountjoy. (Not pictured Grant Hatfield and Tanner Barnett).
By Colin Ryan
The Highland County Press
LEBANON – Hillsboro Christian Academy entered the 2024 Emmanuel Baptist Classic Tournament with their junior varsity boys basketball team. The Crusaders have won four straight tournaments entering the 2024 EBC Tournament.
The Crusaders went 3-0 in the tournament, defeating the Bethel Baptist Mustangs, Liberty Bible Academy Patriots and the Cozzadale Baptist Academy Chargers. This performance resulted in the fifth straight EBC Tournament for HCA.
The Crusaders defeated the Bethel Baptist Mustangs in the first round of the tournament by a score of 49-41. The Crusaders were led in scoring in the game by Hayden Tong with 27 points and Titus Howsman with 12. The Mustangs were led in scoring by Stephen Braun and Michael Wirmel with 16 and 15 points, respectively.
In the second round of the tournament, the Crusaders defeated the LBA Patriots by a score of 57-47. The Crusaders finished the game with three players scoring double-digit points with Tong scoring 23, Howsman scoring 13 and Jonah Brannon scoring 10. Jack Schwartzentruber and Jude Sweigart led the Patriots in scoring with 16 and 10 points, respectively.
In the championship game, the Crusaders faced the CBA Chargers. The Crusaders won 52-31 in their best performance of the tournament. The Crusaders yet again had three players scoring in double-digits with Tong, Howsman and Brannon who scored 17, 13 and 13 points, respectively. The Chargers were led in scoring by Juda Wegener and Cody Chandler with nine and seven points, respectively.
Leaders in scoring for the tournament for the Crusaders were Tong with 67, Howsman with 38, Brannon with 23, Gavin Howsman with 15, Colton Boggess with 10, Grant Hatfield with three and Dathan Mountjoy with two points.
This is junior varsity head coach Tyler Tomera’s first championship as a head coach in his first season. Tomera has been a part of four of the five championships the Crusaders have celebrated as a player and as a coach.
Pictured below (l-r) are Hayden Tong, who was named the most outstanding player of the EBC Tournament, along with Titus Howsman and Jonah Brannon named all-tournament players.
* * *
••• Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.