Sports

ACS Rams take a road trip – a long road trip

By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter

The Atmore Christian School Rams made a very lengthy road trip last week to compete in the Rosedale / Shekinah Invitational Basketball Tournament in Plain City, Ohio, but were unable to generate a win in three different games.
According to ACS head coach Tim Battles, the trip was filled with its fair share of ups and downs, including the team bus breaking down – twice.
“It was a fun trip,” Battles said. “Despite the fact that our team bus broke down on the way there and back, we had a good time and a chance to play against three different teams that we rarely get to see.”
Battles, who coached one of the teams the Rams faced in Ohio, was impressed with play from his team over the course of three games in three days, despite the fact that Atmore Christian failed to generate any wins.
The Rams started play Thursday, January 27 against Shekinah, but lost to the home team, 90-70. During that game, Caeden Battles, the ACS career point record holder, broke out with 39 points, Titus Dean scored 11, Gage Gades added 11 points, and Emmett Battles, younger brother to Caeden, scored 9.
ACS faced Lancaster on Friday (January 28), but lost that game, 63-55. Again, Caeden led the team in points with 23, Emmett scored 12, Gades added 10, Cameron Bryan scored 7, and Dean contributed 3 points.
During the final game of the invitational on Friday (January 29) against Crista Rey, the Rams fell 50-45. Caeden again led the team in scoring with 24 points, Gades put up 14 points, Dean and Bryan scored 3 points each, and Emmett added one point.
“I was proud of the way they played despite the losses,” Battles said. “We had a great time and the guys got to stay and meet with my family. It was a fun trip that helps aid us as we get ready for post-season play.”
Currently the Rams are 6-12 overall and 5-3 in conference play. The Panhandle Christian Conference Basketball Tournament is set to begin Thursday, February 10. in Theodore, but ACS will close with the last conference game of the year, which will determine seeding for the conference tournament, this Thursday, February 3, against Central at 5 p.m. in Atmore. The Rams will close out regular season play this Friday, February 4 against Snook during senior night at Atmore Christian at 5 p.m.