TOTAL Team (As in, 15 of Us) Effort as Crusaders Down Eagles 30-26


Once a year we choose one game for both the 6th Grade A and B teams to come together and play as one unit, and today was that game for the 2019 contingent.  It ended up being prescient planning, as we were missing no less than three A team members due to illness, and the B team players did simply EXCELLENT work in helping this unified team to a four point win over New Horizons Academy.

Evie and Riley scored four points apiece in the first quarter, with two of those baskets coming right after passes from Vari, who was the starting point guard for today and did a great job.  Faith allowed only four points in the first quarter, with both of those coming on nice outside shots from the Eagles.  The 2nd quarter belonged to the B team in entirety, and they did a wonderful job.  NHA used a size advantage to rattle off the first four points to tie, but then a rebound and a jumper from Lisa put Faith back ahead, 10-8. New Horizons tied it when one of thier players tipped in a miss with just one hand - a truly excellent athletic play. The Crusaders re-took the lead when Katelyn, playing against mostly Boys, fearlessy drove the lane, had the ball stripped but recovered, and had a jumper fall.  NHA tied is 12 and pushed hard to take a halftime lead, but everyone - especially Hana and Grace inside and Kali'a on the outside - played some excellent defense and the game was tied at a dozen after a dozen minutes. 

Evie and Riley went back to work in the 3rd period, with Evie getting three on a basket and a free throw and Riley making a jumper after a perfect inbounds play. Shay, who had been makign some dazzling passes, get into the scoring column with a nice 3rd quarter bucket.  While Faith got seven in the third quarter New Horizons hung tough, netting six points, and the Crusaders took a 19-18 lead into the final frame. 

Abby was a defensive anchor in the second half, and in the fourth quarter was doing so playing alongside folks that were new to the particular defense we were playing. Alexis, who simply improves every second she is on the court, and Lauryn, who picks things up SO quickly, were stellar in thier spots during the 4th quarter, helping to hold the Eagles to six points until the final seconds of the game...more on that later. 

Katelyn added another basket in the 4th to give her four points on the day, Abby got into the scoring column as well with a nice jumper, and Isabella R made a couple of very nice passes to Karly, Krash was the offensive catalyst in the final frame, hitting a layup after a steal and adding a traditional three points play as she made a basket and was fouled, sinking the FT.  Evie added another basket, and Faith took a 30-24 lead with ten seconds left.  It was a great testament to staying mentally focused and relaxed to keep sticking with things in a close game, especially for the B team girls that were doing some things that they had not practiced. Very proud of all 15 girls that were with us today. 

With a six point lead, Faith called timeout to explain how things were going to go down in the final ten seconds. NHA has a young man named Connor on the team, and Connor is on the Autism spectrum. Full of smiles to be playing basketball, Connor was a real joy to watch.  Faith inbounded the ball and got to halfcourt when Connor made a steal, and drove to the basket, putting up a shot with less than a second to go. The shot caromed off the backboard and went in as the buzzer sounded, and the Student Center crowd, and all of the players on both teams, were cheering loudly.  Great, great moment. 

Go Faith!!!
Back