Basketball Game Preview: Asheville Christian Academy Lions vs. Gaston Christian Eagles

The Asheville Christian Academy Lions will challenge the Gaston Christian Eagles at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.

Last Friday, Asheville Christian Academy was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap as they fell 64-59 to Rabun Gap-Nacoochee. The loss was a bit of a surprise, as the Lions came into the game with a sizable advantage in MaxPreps' basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 41st in North Carolina, while the Eagles are ranked 147th in Georgia).

Meanwhile, with a playoff win on the line, Gaston Christian rose to the challenge on Thursday. They strolled past the Blues with points to spare, taking the game 64-49. The victory was familiar territory for the Eagles, who have now won seven matches in a row.

Asheville Christian Academy better keep an eye on Cameron Newman. He was instrumental in Gaston Christian's win, putting up 25 points along with seven steals and five assists. Giannis Katsoulas was another key player, posting ten points and three steals.

Gaston Christian smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 14 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 12 offensive rebounds in three consecutive contests.

Gaston Christian pushed their record up to 24-7 with the win, which was their sixth straight at home. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 72.8 points over those games. As for Asheville Christian Academy, their loss dropped their record down to 17-7.

Asheville Christian Academy didn't have too much breathing room in their game against Gaston Christian in their previous meeting back in November of 2024, but they still walked away with a 60-54 victory. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Newman, who went 9-for-21 to rack up 24 points and five boards. Now that he's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Asheville Christian Academy still be able to contain Newman? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.