Lady Crusaders Into Final 4
The Robert Toombs Christian Academy Crusader basketball teams took part in the GIAA State Playoffs last week. The boys got a win over Fullington Academy in the first round of the playoffs, but then fell to the #1 team in the state, Monsignor Donovan. The Lady Crusaders had a bye in the first round and then took on Twiggs Academy, who they had beaten by a combined 59 points in the past two games they had played against them. The win moves RTCA into the Final 4.
Boys vs. Fullington
The boys hosted Fullington on Wednesday night of last week. RTCA got on the board first and were on top 4-2 after a continued from page
basket by David Hill. RTCA was up 13-6 with four minutes to play in the first.
Early in the second the Trojans of Fullington hit two baskets to close the lead to 13-11, but a three by Hayden Kight made it 16-12 with five minutes on the clock. By halftime, RTCA had extended their lead to 37-25.
In the third quarter, Justin Powell made a nice move on the baseline as RTCA led 41-29 with 5:40 on the clock, and then Tripp Durden went up in the paint to make it 4431. Drew Vaughn added a three-pointer to push the lead to 47-34, and then he hit another with 40 seconds left in the third to make it 49-37. RTCA led the game 49-40.
Early in the fourth, the Trojans made it 49-42, but baskets by Durden and Vaughn pushed it to 56-45. RTCA began to pull away and extended their lead to 65-47 with 3:30 left in the game. Kight added a three, and Powell hit another shot as RTCA took the win, 7049.
RTCA was led by Vaughn with 24 points and Powell added 22 in the win.
Girls vs. Twiggs
The RTCA girls took on the Lady Trojans of Twiggs on Saturday afternoon. RTCA again ran away with a win over Twiggs as they advanced to the Final 4 of the State Playoffs.
RTCA jumped out to a 17-8 lead in the first quarter of the game. In the second quarter, they blew the game open as they outscored the Lady Trojans 22-4. That put RTCA on top 39-12 at halftime.
RTCA kept up the pressure in the third quarter of the game and took a 61-16 lead into the fourth. RTCA brought in the subs in the fourth with Twiggs closing the gap some, but RTCA took the win, 63-32.
Bree Wimberly led RTCA with 24 points, Ansley Akins added 16, and Meredith Durden scored 14 in the win.
Boys vs. MonDon
The RTCA boys put up a solid fight against the #1 ranked Rams of Monsignor Donovan on Saturday after-noon. RTCA had a good plan set up as they took the lead in the first quarter and were on top 17-16 when the buzzer sounded. In the second quarter, the scoring slowed down for both teams with RTCA adding to their lead. RTCA led the Rams 2321 heading into halftime.
But in the third quarter, MonDon came storming back as they outscored the Crusaders 21-12. That put the Rams on top 42-35 heading to the fourth quarter. In the final period, MonDon extended their lead as they pulled away to a 59-43 win over RTCA.
RTCA was led by Powell with 18 points, Vaughn added 10, and Durden scored 8 in the loss. The loss ends the Crusaders' season as they finish with an overall record of 12-14.
The Lady Crusaders will now move on to the Final 4. They will play Crisp Academy on Wednesday of this week at Brewton-Parker College at 3:00 p.m.
