The Jones Trojans pushed their score all the way to 67 on Thursday, but even that wasn't enough to win. They fell 75-67 to Liberty Christian Academy.
Jones' defeat came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Gabriel Butler, who scored 25 points along with eight rebounds and three steals. Butler hasn't dropped below two steals for six straight games. Another player making a difference was Keonte' Roberts, who scored 16 points along with eight assists and six rebounds.
Even though they lost, Jones smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 16 offensive rebounds. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Liberty Christian Academy only pulled down four offensive rebounds.
Liberty Christian Academy's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Caleb Morton led the charge by scoring 21 points along with five steals. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Morton has scored all season. Luke Cavanuagh was another key contributor, scoring 18 points along with two blocks.
Jones' loss dropped their record down to 8-5. As for Liberty Christian Academy, the win was the third in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 5-6.
Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Jones won't have much time to rest: their next contest is against East Carteret at 6:30 p.m. on January 12th. East Carteret presents a significant challenge as they come into the match much higher ranked than Jones in North Carolina (East Carteret is ranked 237th, while Jones is ranked 523rd). Liberty Christian Academy won't have much time to rest: their next match is against Hilltop Christian at 8:00 p.m. on January 12th. Hilltop Christian will be looking to extend their current 13-game winning streak.
