RMA starts slow but remains unbeaten in conference play
By FOSTER LANDER
Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Rocky Mount Academy has made it a habit in recent weeks to start games slowly – games they should control from start to finish – only to come roaring back in the final three quarters and win.
It’s a habit Eagles coach Scott Dunn would like to wean his team off of, sure, but all’s well that ends well.
Rocky Mount Academy faced an eight-point deficit after one quarter and did not take the lead for good until more than midway through the third quarter, but the Eagles’ defense clamped down after halftime to secure a 72-61 win over Henderson Crossroads Christian and remain unbeaten in CIC play on Tuesday night.
“We just had to play with more fire, and coach Dunn really got on us about that,” Rocky Mount Academy junior guard Aubrey Mitchell said. “(Crossroads Christian) had it too easy on offense in the first half, so we had to shut down their shooters.”
BOYS
Rocky Mount Academy 72
Crossroads Christian 61
CC 20 16 11 14 – 61
RMA 12 21 19 20 – 72
HCC: Dwayne Macon 20; Jeremiah Green 15; Ghage Kenan 12; Makiyah Jones 6; Zaire Edwards 2; Jack Ketcham 2; Tyler O’Steen 2; Luke Ellis 2.
RMA: Aubrey Mitchell 19; Elijah McCadden 17; Brendan Acker 17; Kyle Holland 11; Hunter Franks 8.
Rocky Mount Academy’s five starters combined to score all 72 points. Mitchell led the Eagles with 19 points, and Elijah McCadden fell just short of a triple-double with 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Senior Brendan Acker added 17 points and 11 rebounds in his final regular-season home game.
The Eagles out-rebounded Crossroads Christian, 40-30, and tallied assists on 15 of their 27 made field goals as the visitors’ high-pressure, full-court defense lost effectiveness and Rocky Mount Academy took advantage with easy layups.
Colts guard Jeremiah Green, a Division I prospect in his own right, was able to get easy dribble penetration into the lane in the first quarter, and Crossroads Christian, which dropped its first conference game of the season Tuesday, converted his slick passes to layups and clean looks at 3-pointers to open up a 20-12 lead after one period.
“We couldn’t stay in front of anybody, really, in that first quarter or first half,” Dunn said. “Their ability to get to the paint off the dribble just opened up whatever they wanted offensively, and those guys can shoot the lights out.”
McCadden scored the game’s first point on a free throw for a 1-0 lead, but Rocky Mount Academy did not lead again until Kyle Holland (11 points) knocked down two free throws for a 42-40 lead at the 3:43 mark of the third quarter.
The Eagles narrowed Crossroads Christian’s advantage to three at halftime behind a defense that finally forced a few turnovers and a more aggressive McCadden.
Holland’s two free throws midway through the third period, however, opened the floodgates.
McCadden followed with a steal and two-handed tomahawk dunk, before Mitchell drilled a 3 from the wing for a 50-44 lead.
The Colts closed to within three at 56-53 with 5:47 left, but Rocky Mount Academy ended the game on a 16-8 run.
By FOSTER LANDER
Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Rocky Mount Academy has made it a habit in recent weeks to start games slowly – games they should control from start to finish – only to come roaring back in the final three quarters and win.
It’s a habit Eagles coach Scott Dunn would like to wean his team off of, sure, but all’s well that ends well.
Rocky Mount Academy faced an eight-point deficit after one quarter and did not take the lead for good until more than midway through the third quarter, but the Eagles’ defense clamped down after halftime to secure a 72-61 win over Henderson Crossroads Christian and remain unbeaten in CIC play on Tuesday night.
“We just had to play with more fire, and coach Dunn really got on us about that,” Rocky Mount Academy junior guard Aubrey Mitchell said. “(Crossroads Christian) had it too easy on offense in the first half, so we had to shut down their shooters.”
BOYS
Rocky Mount Academy 72
Crossroads Christian 61
CC 20 16 11 14 – 61
RMA 12 21 19 20 – 72
HCC: Dwayne Macon 20; Jeremiah Green 15; Ghage Kenan 12; Makiyah Jones 6; Zaire Edwards 2; Jack Ketcham 2; Tyler O’Steen 2; Luke Ellis 2.
RMA: Aubrey Mitchell 19; Elijah McCadden 17; Brendan Acker 17; Kyle Holland 11; Hunter Franks 8.
Rocky Mount Academy’s five starters combined to score all 72 points. Mitchell led the Eagles with 19 points, and Elijah McCadden fell just short of a triple-double with 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Senior Brendan Acker added 17 points and 11 rebounds in his final regular-season home game.
The Eagles out-rebounded Crossroads Christian, 40-30, and tallied assists on 15 of their 27 made field goals as the visitors’ high-pressure, full-court defense lost effectiveness and Rocky Mount Academy took advantage with easy layups.
Colts guard Jeremiah Green, a Division I prospect in his own right, was able to get easy dribble penetration into the lane in the first quarter, and Crossroads Christian, which dropped its first conference game of the season Tuesday, converted his slick passes to layups and clean looks at 3-pointers to open up a 20-12 lead after one period.
“We couldn’t stay in front of anybody, really, in that first quarter or first half,” Dunn said. “Their ability to get to the paint off the dribble just opened up whatever they wanted offensively, and those guys can shoot the lights out.”
McCadden scored the game’s first point on a free throw for a 1-0 lead, but Rocky Mount Academy did not lead again until Kyle Holland (11 points) knocked down two free throws for a 42-40 lead at the 3:43 mark of the third quarter.
The Eagles narrowed Crossroads Christian’s advantage to three at halftime behind a defense that finally forced a few turnovers and a more aggressive McCadden.
Holland’s two free throws midway through the third period, however, opened the floodgates.
McCadden followed with a steal and two-handed tomahawk dunk, before Mitchell drilled a 3 from the wing for a 50-44 lead.
The Colts closed to within three at 56-53 with 5:47 left, but Rocky Mount Academy ended the game on a 16-8 run.
