TRINITY CHRISTIAN 81, VILLAGE CHRISTIAN 75
Too much firepower
Trinity Christian avenges a loss behind Baker, Nickelberry
By Patrick Obley
Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Joey Baker crashed out on the stage behind Trinity Christian’s basketball goal Tuesday night after a horrific attempt at a game-ending dunk went awry.
It was just about the only thing that went wrong for the Crusaders against Village Christian.
In showing growth from their first run-in with the Knights back in November, Trinity Christian seized control in the third quarter and fended off repeated attacks en route to an 81-75 victory at Fuller Recreation Center.
Village had defeated Trinity 80-68 in that November meeting.
“It was a similar situation in November and (Village) came out and had a big third quarter,” Trinity Christian coach Heath Vandevender said. “We won three of the four quarters, but that third quarter was the difference in the game. We reminded them of that at halftime.”
The Crusaders forged a 35-32 halftime lead thanks to a Bakerfueled 13-3 run that turned an 18-17 deficit into a 30-21 advantage. In November, Trinity also had the lead at halftime, only to see it vanish under a barrage of baskets from Jordan Ratliffe and Dakari Johnson.
History appeared to be repeating itself when Ratliffe marauded through the lane to put back a blocked shot for a 46-45 Knights lead. Nassyr Daniels extended the edge to 48-45.
Josh Nickelberry put an end to that, responding with consecutive 3-point baskets for a 51-48 lead. The Crusaders would never trail again, though they would never be able to completely pull away.
“We decided we had to lock down on defense,” Nickelberry “We weren’t worried about offense. We were going to get to the bucket. We had to lock it up on defense.”
Heavy on sophomores
The game was a matchup of a senior-laden Knights squad against a sophomore-heavy Crusaders roster. Trinity’s sophomore foursome of Nickelberry, Baker, Talton Jones and Greg Gantt combined for 76 points. Baker led the way with 24, followed by Nickelberry’s 19. “Both of those two are very special sophomores and they each have more than 15 college offers,” Vandevender said.
“Everyone responded and I think we’re playing our best basketball when it’s most important.”
Johnson led all scorers with 31 points despite being shut out in the first quarter. Ratliffe added 22.
Village Christian coach Kurtis Darden said no matter what the Knights tried to do, containing Nickelberry and Baker proved too difficult.
“Any time you have two players like that and they get into a groove and start making shots, there’s only a couple of things you can do — foul and try to outscore them,” Darden said. “We tried both and it didn’t happen for us tonight.”
Perhaps they should have let Baker go in for dunks all night. He missed two bunnies in embarrassing fashion.
“He didn’t realize where he was when he took off,” Vandevender said with a laugh. “I told him that you’re definitely not Michael Jordan, trying to jump from the foul line.”
Staff writer Patrick Obley can be reached at obleyp@fayobserver.com or 486-3519.
Trinity Christian 81, Village Christian 75
Village Christian 13 19 19 24—75
Trinity Christian 10 29 14 28—81
VILLAGE CHRISTIAN — Jordan Ratliffe 22, Wilson 4, Daniels 7, Haymer 4, Dakari Johnson 31, Simmons 4, Ellis 3.
TRINITY CHRISTIAN — Herring 4, Talton Jones 15, Joey Baker 24, Josh Nickelberry 19, Greg Gantt 17, Marshall 1.
• Fouled out: VC — Daniels
• 3-point goals: Village: Ratliffe 3, Johnson 5, Simmons, Ellis. Trinity: Jones, Nickelberry 3, Gantt.
• Records: Village Christian 22-6, Trinity Christian 19-9.
Too much firepower
Trinity Christian avenges a loss behind Baker, Nickelberry
By Patrick Obley
Staff writer FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER
Joey Baker crashed out on the stage behind Trinity Christian’s basketball goal Tuesday night after a horrific attempt at a game-ending dunk went awry.
It was just about the only thing that went wrong for the Crusaders against Village Christian.
In showing growth from their first run-in with the Knights back in November, Trinity Christian seized control in the third quarter and fended off repeated attacks en route to an 81-75 victory at Fuller Recreation Center.
Village had defeated Trinity 80-68 in that November meeting.
“It was a similar situation in November and (Village) came out and had a big third quarter,” Trinity Christian coach Heath Vandevender said. “We won three of the four quarters, but that third quarter was the difference in the game. We reminded them of that at halftime.”
The Crusaders forged a 35-32 halftime lead thanks to a Bakerfueled 13-3 run that turned an 18-17 deficit into a 30-21 advantage. In November, Trinity also had the lead at halftime, only to see it vanish under a barrage of baskets from Jordan Ratliffe and Dakari Johnson.
History appeared to be repeating itself when Ratliffe marauded through the lane to put back a blocked shot for a 46-45 Knights lead. Nassyr Daniels extended the edge to 48-45.
Josh Nickelberry put an end to that, responding with consecutive 3-point baskets for a 51-48 lead. The Crusaders would never trail again, though they would never be able to completely pull away.
“We decided we had to lock down on defense,” Nickelberry “We weren’t worried about offense. We were going to get to the bucket. We had to lock it up on defense.”
Heavy on sophomores
The game was a matchup of a senior-laden Knights squad against a sophomore-heavy Crusaders roster. Trinity’s sophomore foursome of Nickelberry, Baker, Talton Jones and Greg Gantt combined for 76 points. Baker led the way with 24, followed by Nickelberry’s 19. “Both of those two are very special sophomores and they each have more than 15 college offers,” Vandevender said.
“Everyone responded and I think we’re playing our best basketball when it’s most important.”
Johnson led all scorers with 31 points despite being shut out in the first quarter. Ratliffe added 22.
Village Christian coach Kurtis Darden said no matter what the Knights tried to do, containing Nickelberry and Baker proved too difficult.
“Any time you have two players like that and they get into a groove and start making shots, there’s only a couple of things you can do — foul and try to outscore them,” Darden said. “We tried both and it didn’t happen for us tonight.”
Perhaps they should have let Baker go in for dunks all night. He missed two bunnies in embarrassing fashion.
“He didn’t realize where he was when he took off,” Vandevender said with a laugh. “I told him that you’re definitely not Michael Jordan, trying to jump from the foul line.”
Staff writer Patrick Obley can be reached at obleyp@fayobserver.com or 486-3519.
Trinity Christian 81, Village Christian 75
Village Christian 13 19 19 24—75
Trinity Christian 10 29 14 28—81
VILLAGE CHRISTIAN — Jordan Ratliffe 22, Wilson 4, Daniels 7, Haymer 4, Dakari Johnson 31, Simmons 4, Ellis 3.
TRINITY CHRISTIAN — Herring 4, Talton Jones 15, Joey Baker 24, Josh Nickelberry 19, Greg Gantt 17, Marshall 1.
• Fouled out: VC — Daniels
• 3-point goals: Village: Ratliffe 3, Johnson 5, Simmons, Ellis. Trinity: Jones, Nickelberry 3, Gantt.
• Records: Village Christian 22-6, Trinity Christian 19-9.
