By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
After a much-needed Christmas break, the Escambia Academy Cougars resumed the 2021-2022 basketball season with a 70-32 non-region victory over the Atmore Christian School Rams last Thursday, December 30.
According to EA head coach Willie White, the Rams came out ready to play during the first quarter of the game, but EA applied pressure for the remainder of the contest and was able to keep the athletic Atmore Christian team at bay.
Landon Sims led the Cougars in scoring with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. Bubba Nettles followed Sims’ performance with 12 points, Kanye Hooks scored 12, Charlie Sasser registered 9 points, Brian Brown had 7 points, Malaki Haynes had 6 points, and Ronta Watson scored 4 points. Tommorian Knight, Ty McCants and S.T. Clarke scored 2 points each.
“We had to use a combination of varsity and junior varsity players,” White said. “We had some players who didn’t get a chance to practice, so going in, we were not sure how it was going to play out, but it was in our favor. They are a great team and played a respectful game. It is a pleasure always playing Atmore Christian.”
For Atmore Christian, standout Caeden Battles took the top scoring position with 9 points. Battles, who is currently looking to break the school’s career scoring record of 1,402 points, is just 7 points shy with 1,396 points.
“I am very proud of him,” ACS head coach and Battles’ father Tim Battles said. “It is a major accomplishment for any player. We didn’t receive the results that we wanted in this game, but EA is a really good team.”
Younger brother Emmett Battles also scored 9 points. Titus Dean and Cameron Bryan scored 5 points each. Gage Gages and Silas Albritton had 2 points each.
With the loss Atmore Christian falls to 4-5 on the season while EA advances to 5-3.
Atmore Christian will next travel to face South Baldwin in region action this Thursday, January 6, at 5 p.m., and Escambia Academy will next host Northview this Thursday, January 6, at 4 p.m.