Basketball Recap: Excel Christian Academy Drops Season-High Score on Vanguard

Spartans

Team Score

01/27/25 vs Vanguard	78
12/12/24 @ Victory Rock Prep	70
01/18/25 @ DME Academy Blue	60
12/21/24 vs Bible Baptist Christian	58
12/02/24 vs Haines City	57

Winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Excel Christian Academy). They snuck past the Vanguard Panthers with a 78-73 victory on Monday. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Spartans as it put an end to their five-game losing streak.

Vanguard's defeat shouldn't obscure the performances of Turral Berry, who posted 32 points and four steals, and Brian Glover, who had 16 points in addition to six assists and six steals. That was a full 43.8% of Vanguard's points, marking the fifth time in a row he's earned more than a third of the team's points. Jakhai Ford was another key player, putting up four points along with seven assists and five rebounds.

Excel Christian Academy's victory ended a four-game drought at home and bumped them up to 2-10. As for Vanguard, they have traveled a rocky road recently having lost four of their last five matchups, which put a noticeable dent in their 7-12 record this season.

Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Excel Christian Academy will venture away from home to challenge Calusa Prep at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. As for Vanguard, a feisty cat fight is on tap when the Vanguard Panthers duke it out with the Hardee Wildcats at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday. Vanguard knows how to get points on the board -- the team has finished with 55 points or more in their past three contests -- so hopefully Hardee likes a good challenge.