The Metro Academy Mavericks pushed their score all the way to 70 on Thursday, but even that wasn't enough to win. They fell just short of Lighthouse Christian by a score of 72-70. The loss was a bit of a surprise, as Metro Academy came into the matchup with a sizable advantage in MaxPreps's basketball rankings in their respective home states (they are ranked 122nd in Kansas, while the Chargers are ranked 324th in Missouri).
Lighthouse Christian's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Judah Louderback, who scored 27 points along with six rebounds and three steals. Elijah Rahn was another key contributor, scoring 14 points along with five rebounds and four steals.
Metro Academy has not been sharp recently as the team's lost four of their last five contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 15-11 record this season. As for Lighthouse Christian, they have been performing well recently as they've won three of their last four games, which provided a nice bump to their 11-8 record this season.
Metro Academy will be staying on the road on Friday to face off against the Defenders on February 2nd. As for Lighthouse Christian, they won't have much time to rest: their next game is against the Lions at 9:00 a.m. on February 2nd. Kansas City East Christian Academy knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with flashy point totals in its past five matches -- so hopefully the Chargers like a good challenge.
