By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
Basketball season is well underway at Atmore Christian School, and the Rams have been dominating in posting a 4-0 start.
ACS kicked off the 2020 basketball season November 17 with a 45-42 victory over Calvary Christian Academy. Since then, the scores have not been nearly as close.
Following the season opener, the Rams defeated Temple Christian, 66-47, then swept a November 20 double-header with wins over Conecuh Christian, 53-22, and Snook Academy, 78-26.
“I am very proud of our start so far,” ACS head coach Tim Battles said. “These guys are playing great and more importantly are doing the little things right.”
Team leader Caeden Battles has had a great start to the season, averaging over 19 points and more than 10 rebounds per game.
“Caeden is our biggest guy,” Battles said. “He is the guy you go to when you need a basket. He is doing an excellent job reading plays and has become a leader for the rest of the guys to get behind.”
Even though Caeden Battles is leading the team in scoring, his younger brother Emmett Battles is not far behind.
So far this season Emmett Battles is averaging 8.25 points per game and, according to the head coach, is the primary spot-up shooter for the Rams. Against Conecuh earlier this month, he stole the ball five times and had 11 rebounds.
The Battles Brothers are joined as leaders by teammate Reese White, who has averaged more than eight points per game, and one of last season’s scoring leaders, Gage Gades, is picking up where he left off. Gades has averaged more than 11 points per game and is the team’s primary assists leader. Titus Dean and Dexter Smoker are also contributing nicely to the team performance, each with an average of more than five points per game.
ACS will enter Panhandle Christian Conference play this week with games against Lead and S.L. Jones.
“We have to make sure that we keep working,” Battles said. “We can not get comfortable and lay off. We need to keep the success going from here and continue to pursue the goal.”
With at least 12 conference games on their schedule, the Rams look to improve on the undefeated record and stay in line for a shot at the conference championship at the season’s conclusion.
The next scheduled home game for ACS is Thursday, December 3, at 6 p.m., against S.L. Jones.