The Grace Christian Crusaders can now show off eight landslide victories after their most recent matchup on Monday. They breezed by Thales Academy Apex on the road to the tune of 101-71. Given Grace Christian's advantage in MaxPreps' North Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 191st, while the Titans are ranked 500th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Grace Christian's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Ma'Kyi Butler, who scored 23 points along with eight rebounds and three steals. Butler hasn't dropped below 21 points for seven straight games. Another player making a difference was Grant Jacques, who went 7 for 12 from beyond the arc en route to 27 points and 2 assists.
Several Titans players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Zach Rachmuth, who dropped a double-double on 30 points and 11 rebounds. Luke Railo was another key contributor, scoring 24 points along with five rebounds and three steals.
The win (which was Grace Christian's fourth in a row) raised their record to 15-11. Those good results were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 82.8 points per game. As for Thales Academy Apex, they have traveled a rocky road recently having lost 18 of their last 21 matchups, which put a noticeable dent in their 7-22 record this season.
Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Grace Christian will take on the Sabres at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. South Wake has been dominant on offense recently, as they've racked up an incredible 756 points over their last ten matches. As for Thales Academy Apex, they will play host again and welcome the Lions, where tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Neuse Christian Academy is coming into the game on a six-game losing streak.
