Crusaders Are Region Champs
The Crusaders basketball teams of Robert Toombs Christian Academy hosted the Region Tournament last week, and both the boys and girls came away as Region Champions. The RTCA boys also played against First Preparatory Christian Academy on Tuesday before the tournament.
The girls went in as the #1 seed and played in the Region Championship Game against Twiggs Academy. The boys were also the #1 seed and played First Preparatory Christian Academy on Thursday and then faced Twiggs Academy in the Championship Game.
Boys vs. FPCA
Aaron Hankerson and Tyler Buggs got the first baskets for RTCA as they took an early 4-2 lead. It was a low scoring first quarter as the score was 8-5 with just over a minute left in the period. Jackson Newton continued from page
added a basket and at the end of the period the Crusaders led 14-7 with MK McBride hitting a threepointer at the buzzer.
Hayden Kight hit a three to kick off the second quarter for RTCA, and Drew Vaughn made it 20-9 with 5:45 left in the half. RTCA began to pull away with a three from McBride and a shot in the lane from Jashaun Powell. That gave them a 27-9 lead with 3:30 to go in the first half.
At the end of the first half, the score was 34-15 with the Crusaders well out in front.
It was 49-22 with 3:40 left in the third period, and then with just one minute to go the Crusaders held a 53-24 lead. Heading to the fourth quarter the score was 56-28.
RTCA went on to win the game by the score of 68-45. McBride scored 19 points to lead RTCA, Vaughn, Buggs, and Powell all added 8 points in the win.
Boys vs. FPCA
This was another blowout win for the Crusaders over the Highlanders. RTCA was on top 23-12 and led the game 25-12 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second the Crusaders led 33-18 after baskets by McBride and Hankerson. Hankerson added to the lead just before the end of the first half, and it was 37-18 with RTCA on top at halftime. In the third Hankerson added a three-pointer. The Crusaders continued to pull away over the third period to lead 57-25 heading to the fourth. With that score it was a shortened fourth quarter. RTCA took the win over FPCA 70-39. McBride led RTCA with 19 points, Vaughn added 9, Hankerson scored 9, and Buggs posted 8 in the win.
Girls vs. Twiggs Championship
In the Championship Game RTCA’s Lady Crusaders rolled to an easy win. By the two minute mark of the first quarter RTCA was in front 14-0 on the Twiggs Lady Trojans. Twiggs finally got on the board with a free throw, but by the end of the first it was 16-1. Bree Wimberly, Ansley Akins, and Morgan Newsome added baskets in the second to put RTCA up 25-1 with three minute to go in the first half. By the end of the half the score was 32-3. By the end of the third period the score was 47-13. That made for a shortened fourth quarter. In that fourth RTCA continued to pull away as they did not allow Twiggs to score another basket on the way to a 55-13 win. Wimberly led RTCA with 20 points and Akins added 8 points. The win gave RTCA the Region Championship.
Boys vs. Twiggs Championship
The RTCA boys also ran away with the Region Championship as they took on the Trojans of Twiggs Academy as well. Neither team scored over the first two minutes of the game, but a basket by Vaughn got RTCA on the board. Mc-Bride hit a three and Powell made it 7-2. With one minute to go in the first, it was 14-6, and at the end of the quarter RTCA was on top 19-6. In the second quarter Hankerson and Buggs pushed the lead to 27-10. McBride drilled another three-pointer, and it was 40-10 with three minutes to go in the first half. At the end of the half, RTCA was on top 35-15. The lead was 45-18 halfway through the third period, and then with three minutes left it was 50-20. McBride had a steal and slammed it down, and Vaughn made it 56-20 at the end of the third period. That again made for a shortened fourth quarter.
RTCA took the win and the Region Championship 65-30 over Twiggs.
This moves both teams into the State Playoffs, which begin this week. The Lady Crusaders go into the tournament as the #9 seed and faced #8 Edmund Burke on the road on Tuesday after presstime. If they won that game, they will move on and play on Friday at 5:30 p.m. against the winner of #1 Westwood and #16 Memorial Day.
The boys go into the playoffs as the #3 team and will host Briarwood Academy on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. If they win that, they will then play on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against the winner of #6 Brentwood and #11 Westwood.
The Lady Crusaders are Region Champions after defeating Twiggs Academy.Photo by Mike Branch
