By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
Despite a strong stand and a career high 35-point game from Caeden Battles, Atmore Christian School fell 100-72 last Friday, January 21, to Lighthouse Christian Academy, but found victory earlier in the week last Thursday (January 20) against South Baldwin Christian Academy, 56-32.
ACS head coach Tim Battles said that despite losing against Lighthouse, Caeden Battles and Titus Dean both gained career high scoring games against Lighthouse.
“We played a good game against them (Lighthouse),” Coach Battles said. “The only problem was that for Lighthouse, their defense is to play offense. They are good. We know it, they know it and so does everyone else. They can always find a way to gain points from almost anywhere. They play a rock-solid offense.”
Against Lighthouse, Caeden scored 35 points and was joined in the career high performance by Titus Dean who scored a career high of 19 points. Gage Gades added 11 points, and Emmett Battles added 7 points.
“We will face this team (Lighthouse) again later this season,” Coach Battles said. “We will have to face them when they host the Panhandle Christian Conference West Regional Tournament which starts on February 11. They are no doubt the favorite to win. It is going to take a really good team to shut them down.”
On the upside, against South Baldwin, the ACS Rams found a way to gain victory. During that game, Caeden, the constant scoring leader for ACS, gained 25 points. Gage Gades added 16, Titus Dean gained 9 points and Emmett scored 6. With the split week, Atmore Christian’s season record stands at 6-8.
This week, the Rams will make a really long road trip to face their next opponent. How long? Try Ohio!
Over 18 years ago, ACS head coach Tim Battles and his family moved to the area from his home in Ohio after coaching at Chekinah Christian for 10 years. For the Battles family, the road trip will be much more than just a basketball game, but a friendly battle against family and friends as the Rams will face multiple teams during the Chekinah-Rosedale Basketball Tournament which will run from Thursday, January 27, to Saturday, January 29.
“It is going to be fun,” Coach Battles said. “We get to play against my former team that I used to coach which is now made up by some of our family members. The entire team is looking forward to the trip.”
Upon returning from the short road trip, the Rams will host Central Christian at home on Thursday, February 3, and will then host Snook on Friday, February 4, for Senior Night.