Mount Calvary Christian uses second-quarter run, defeats Bethel Christian in girls' basketball
Mount Calvary Christian’s Bailey Wade helped lead the Warriors to a win over Bethel Christian, a team she played with in seventh grade. Photo by Sarai Fulcher / Special to ENC Moments
HOOKERTON — Mount Calvary Christian felt like there was something to prove against Bethel Christian Friday.
The Warriors never trailed and used a big second quarter run to pick up a 39-28 victory over the Trojans. MCCA (4-6) has already won as many game this season as last year, and look to keep the momentum strong moving forward.
“The last few games we had struggled with our perimeter game, but it really took shape tonight,” Warriors coach Frank Rice said. “Our bigs have played well all year, but it was great seeing shots fall from the perimeter.”
Both teams struggled from the start as Bethel Christian (0-1) missed its first 11 shots and Mount Calvary turned it over on its initial five possessions. A basket from Hannah Rice put the Warriors up 9-4 late in the first, but the Trojans tied it after Kimberly Speelman scored with 5:32 to go in the second. BCA wouldn’t score again for the remainder of the half as MCCA went on an 11-0 run — Rice scored five of the points — to take a 20-9 advantage into the break.
“We just really wanted this game and worked together for it,” Rice said.
The Warriors pushed their advantage to as many as 13 in the second half, but the Trojans tried to make a run in the fourth. A free throw from Kelly Suggs with 3:07 to play brought BCA within 35-28, but MCCA closed it out, including a breakaway layup from Bailey Wade.
Wade, a freshman, started her high school career at Bethel Christian in the seventh grade and said it meant a lot playing against the Trojans.
“I was very nervous, but whenever I started playing it was just a regular game,” Wade said.
Victoria Rice led all scorers with 11 points and said the team was fired up for this game.
“It was a team effort and a lot of hard work,” the senior said. “We had to get into a groove and we know what it was like to struggle, so when you’re up you don’t want to lose it.”
Bethel Christian coach Ashley Stroud said the team will recover from its season-opening loss.
“We moved the ball well at times, but just didn’t make shots and had a lot of careless turnovers,” Stroud said. “That’s what you can get in the first game, but we’ll be fine. We’ve got a young team, but we’re solid all around and I believe we’ll be tough to beat in a couple weeks.”
Olivia Fulcher led the Trojans in scoring with 7 points.
Bethel Christian’s next game is at Gramerly Christian Tuesday while Mount Calvary hosts Jacksonville Christian Monday.
MOUNT CALVARY CHRISTIAN 39, BETHEL CHRISTIAN 28
BCA 4 5 11 8 — 28
MCCA 9 11 13 6 — 39
BETHEL CHRISTIAN — Fulcher 7, Speelman 4, Vause 4, Chapman 4, Barnhill 3, Gates 3, Suggs 3
MOUNT CALVARY CHRISTIAN — Victoria Rice 11, Wade 9, Tuten 7, H. Rice 7, Buck 5
Three-pointers: BCA — Fulcher. MCCA — Wade.
Mount Calvary Christian’s Bailey Wade helped lead the Warriors to a win over Bethel Christian, a team she played with in seventh grade. Photo by Sarai Fulcher / Special to ENC Moments
HOOKERTON — Mount Calvary Christian felt like there was something to prove against Bethel Christian Friday.
The Warriors never trailed and used a big second quarter run to pick up a 39-28 victory over the Trojans. MCCA (4-6) has already won as many game this season as last year, and look to keep the momentum strong moving forward.
“The last few games we had struggled with our perimeter game, but it really took shape tonight,” Warriors coach Frank Rice said. “Our bigs have played well all year, but it was great seeing shots fall from the perimeter.”
Both teams struggled from the start as Bethel Christian (0-1) missed its first 11 shots and Mount Calvary turned it over on its initial five possessions. A basket from Hannah Rice put the Warriors up 9-4 late in the first, but the Trojans tied it after Kimberly Speelman scored with 5:32 to go in the second. BCA wouldn’t score again for the remainder of the half as MCCA went on an 11-0 run — Rice scored five of the points — to take a 20-9 advantage into the break.
“We just really wanted this game and worked together for it,” Rice said.
The Warriors pushed their advantage to as many as 13 in the second half, but the Trojans tried to make a run in the fourth. A free throw from Kelly Suggs with 3:07 to play brought BCA within 35-28, but MCCA closed it out, including a breakaway layup from Bailey Wade.
Wade, a freshman, started her high school career at Bethel Christian in the seventh grade and said it meant a lot playing against the Trojans.
“I was very nervous, but whenever I started playing it was just a regular game,” Wade said.
Victoria Rice led all scorers with 11 points and said the team was fired up for this game.
“It was a team effort and a lot of hard work,” the senior said. “We had to get into a groove and we know what it was like to struggle, so when you’re up you don’t want to lose it.”
Bethel Christian coach Ashley Stroud said the team will recover from its season-opening loss.
“We moved the ball well at times, but just didn’t make shots and had a lot of careless turnovers,” Stroud said. “That’s what you can get in the first game, but we’ll be fine. We’ve got a young team, but we’re solid all around and I believe we’ll be tough to beat in a couple weeks.”
Olivia Fulcher led the Trojans in scoring with 7 points.
Bethel Christian’s next game is at Gramerly Christian Tuesday while Mount Calvary hosts Jacksonville Christian Monday.
MOUNT CALVARY CHRISTIAN 39, BETHEL CHRISTIAN 28
BCA 4 5 11 8 — 28
MCCA 9 11 13 6 — 39
BETHEL CHRISTIAN — Fulcher 7, Speelman 4, Vause 4, Chapman 4, Barnhill 3, Gates 3, Suggs 3
MOUNT CALVARY CHRISTIAN — Victoria Rice 11, Wade 9, Tuten 7, H. Rice 7, Buck 5
Three-pointers: BCA — Fulcher. MCCA — Wade.
