The First Academy Eagles pushed their score all the way to 60 on Monday, but even that wasn't enough to win. They took a 73-60 hit to the loss column at the hands of Seven Rivers Christian. Even though they lost, First Academy's still made a splash on offense and bumped their average scoring up to 51 points per game (they're now ranked -1th in scoring overall).
First Academy's loss came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Rhett Walsh, who scored 18 points along with nine rebounds and five steals. Walsh also scored 15+ points for the first time this season. Another player making a difference was Bryce Norflee, who dropped a double-double on 17 points and ten rebounds.
It was another big night for Hendrix Loughridge, who dropped a double-double on 29 points and 21 rebounds for Seven Rivers Christian. The match was Loughridge's sixth in a row with at least ten points. Richard Kilias was another key contributor, scoring 16 points along with six rebounds.
First Academy has been struggling recently, as they've lost four of their last five games, which put a noticeable dent in their 3-5 record this season. As for Seven Rivers Christian, the win makes it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 4-2.
First Academy will get a bit of extra time to process the loss as their next game is a ways off. They'll take on Trinity Christian Academy at 6:00 p.m. on January 5, 2024. As for Seven Rivers Christian, they will head out on the road to face off against Bishop McLaughlin Catholic at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
