Losing a couple close games was all the preparation that Christ School junior varsity basketball needed to flip the script Thursday.
Despite being saddled with foul trouble, Cooper Perone ‘24 led the way with 16 points, Blake Ragsdale ‘23 added 13, and the Greenies beat visiting Asheville Christian Academy, 50-46, inside Mebane Field House.
Tony Murphy ‘23 netted eight points, Reeves Cates ‘24, Jamal Hutchinson ‘23, and Fallou Faye ‘25 chipped in three apiece, and both Kennedy Achugamonu ‘23 and Brewer Nitcher ‘25 had two.
Christ School had come into Thursday’s game off back-to-back single digit losses to a different Carolinas Athletic Association program, Rabun Gap (Ga.). The Greenies (1-5) were within one point of the Eagles in the closing seconds of a 50-45 setback on Jan. 20, and it was even closer the second go-around in Tuesday’s 43-41 home loss.
Thursday’s game could not have been much tighter. The two teams were tied 23-all at halftime.
A 3-pointer by Blake allowed Christ School to grab a 32-24 lead at the 3:21 mark of the third quarter. However, ACA closed with a surge of its own and was ahead, 37-35, entering the fourth. Baskets by Tony and Brewer gave the Greenies the advantage for good with just under two minutes to go.
Christ School plays its third game of the week Saturday at home against Carmel Christian. Tip-off time is 12:30 p.m. and the JV game will precede another in varsity.
