The Elliot Christian Eagles's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Thursday after their 15th straight defeat. They fell just short of Turlock Christian by a score of 58-56. The defeat unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Elliot Christian in their matchups with the Eagles: they've now lost seven in a row.
Elliot Christian's defeat came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jayden Gaither, who dropped a double-double on 23 points and 17 rebounds. Gaither has been hot recently, having posted 11 or more rebounds the last six times he's played. Another player making a difference was Jeremy Nielsen, who scored 21 points along with four steals and two blocks.
Even though they lost, Elliot Christian were working as a unit and finished the game with 12 assists. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Turlock Christian only posted five assists.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Turlock Christian to victory, but perhaps none more so than Ben Bylsma, who scored 20 points along with three steals. That makes it three consecutive games in which Bylsma has scored at least a third of Turlock Christian's points. Michael Miller was another key contributor, scoring 11 points along with five steals.
Elliot Christian's loss was their 15th straight on the road dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 4-16. As for Turlock Christian, their win bumped their record up to 6-15.
Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Elliot Christian will take on the Lions at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Big Valley Christian has been dominant on offense recently, as they've racked up an incredible 754 points over their last 11 matches. As for Turlock Christian, they will play host again and welcome the Mustangs, where tip off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Venture Academy presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than the Eagles in California (the Mustangs are ranked 201st, while the Eagles are ranked 1239th).
