Knights run win streak to nine games
By Jaclyn Shambaugh Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Village Christian lost an early lead, regained it, lost it again and had to fend off a pair of late pushes by Freedom Christian to survive with a 75-66 road win Friday night.
But Knights guard Jordan Ratliffe wasn't worried.
"I knew if we just took care of the ball, played defense and let the clock run out, we'd be all right," he said.
Ratliffe scored a game-high 25 points and helped stave off the Patriots by finishing a three-point play and making two free throws with less than 30 seconds to play.
The Knights improved to 15-2 overall and stretched their winning streak to nine games.
Knights' coach Kurtis Darden called the win an important one, coming against an in-town rival and a fellow 2-A team that could be a potential playoff opponent.
Village jumped out to an early lead, taking advantage of six turnovers by the Patriots (11-7) and going ahead 16-6 on a 3-pointer by Ratliffe with just over two minutes to play in the first quarter.
Guards Jarvez Ellis and Josh Haymer joined Ratliffe in double-digit scoring, finishing with 19 and 12 points, respectively.
Patriots' coach Dan Pruessner acknowledged the speed of the Knights' backcourt and pointed to his own team's careless play and poor rebounding as critical factors in the loss.
"They're a tough matchup for us because they've got a lot of little quick guards," Patriots' coach Dan Pruessner said. "But we had 15 turnovers and 13 offensive rebounds, and that did us in."
Freedom narrowed the gap in the second quarter and started the third on a tear.
Thank God Avar scored nine points in the first four minutes of the third quarter, part of a 23-point night for the junior, and Lawrence Williams made back-to-back layups to tie the score at 46 with 3:22 left in the frame.
Williams made a 3-pointer two minutes later to give the Patriots a 50-49 lead.
Darden said he had warned his team that Freedom would make a run, advising his players to stay tough late in the game.
"I think the pivotal point was when they took their lead, and we were able to stay composed, while we were in foul trouble, and still come back with a run of our own," the coach said.
Village answered Freedom's big third quarter with a 7-0 run to start the fourth, building up a cushion that helped the Knights' stay out of reach down the stretch.
The Patriots drew within a basket three times, but the Knights made all of their last seven attempts at the foul line to hang on for the win.
Village Christian 75, Freedom Christian 66
Village Christian 18 22 13 22-75
Freedom Christian 11 18 24 13-66
VILLAGE CHRISTIAN - Jordan Ratliffe 25, Strother 7, Jarvez Ellis 19, Josh Haymer 12, Banks 2, Daniels 8
FREEDOM CHRISTIAN - Todd Smith 11, Milos Sapica, Harvey 6, Jenkins 3, Lawrence Williams 13, Thank-God Avar 23
Fouled out: none
3-point goals: VCA - Ratliffe 2, Ellis 2; FCA - Harvey, Jenkins, Williams
Records: Village Christian 15-2, Freedom Christian 11-7
By Jaclyn Shambaugh Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Village Christian lost an early lead, regained it, lost it again and had to fend off a pair of late pushes by Freedom Christian to survive with a 75-66 road win Friday night.
But Knights guard Jordan Ratliffe wasn't worried.
"I knew if we just took care of the ball, played defense and let the clock run out, we'd be all right," he said.
Ratliffe scored a game-high 25 points and helped stave off the Patriots by finishing a three-point play and making two free throws with less than 30 seconds to play.
The Knights improved to 15-2 overall and stretched their winning streak to nine games.
Knights' coach Kurtis Darden called the win an important one, coming against an in-town rival and a fellow 2-A team that could be a potential playoff opponent.
Village jumped out to an early lead, taking advantage of six turnovers by the Patriots (11-7) and going ahead 16-6 on a 3-pointer by Ratliffe with just over two minutes to play in the first quarter.
Guards Jarvez Ellis and Josh Haymer joined Ratliffe in double-digit scoring, finishing with 19 and 12 points, respectively.
Patriots' coach Dan Pruessner acknowledged the speed of the Knights' backcourt and pointed to his own team's careless play and poor rebounding as critical factors in the loss.
"They're a tough matchup for us because they've got a lot of little quick guards," Patriots' coach Dan Pruessner said. "But we had 15 turnovers and 13 offensive rebounds, and that did us in."
Freedom narrowed the gap in the second quarter and started the third on a tear.
Thank God Avar scored nine points in the first four minutes of the third quarter, part of a 23-point night for the junior, and Lawrence Williams made back-to-back layups to tie the score at 46 with 3:22 left in the frame.
Williams made a 3-pointer two minutes later to give the Patriots a 50-49 lead.
Darden said he had warned his team that Freedom would make a run, advising his players to stay tough late in the game.
"I think the pivotal point was when they took their lead, and we were able to stay composed, while we were in foul trouble, and still come back with a run of our own," the coach said.
Village answered Freedom's big third quarter with a 7-0 run to start the fourth, building up a cushion that helped the Knights' stay out of reach down the stretch.
The Patriots drew within a basket three times, but the Knights made all of their last seven attempts at the foul line to hang on for the win.
Village Christian 75, Freedom Christian 66
Village Christian 18 22 13 22-75
Freedom Christian 11 18 24 13-66
VILLAGE CHRISTIAN - Jordan Ratliffe 25, Strother 7, Jarvez Ellis 19, Josh Haymer 12, Banks 2, Daniels 8
FREEDOM CHRISTIAN - Todd Smith 11, Milos Sapica, Harvey 6, Jenkins 3, Lawrence Williams 13, Thank-God Avar 23
Fouled out: none
3-point goals: VCA - Ratliffe 2, Ellis 2; FCA - Harvey, Jenkins, Williams
Records: Village Christian 15-2, Freedom Christian 11-7
