Adams County Christian School’s varsity boys’ basketball team achieved its first victory of the season on January 3, 2024, overcoming a challenging start to defeat Riverfield Academy 38-36 in a MAIS District 3-3A matchup. The game, held at the Bub Ulmer Gym on the ACCS campus, saw the Rebels trailing by nine points at halftime before mounting a comeback to secure the win.
The first half was difficult for the Rebels. They struggled offensively, scoring only five points in the first quarter, while Riverfield capitalized to take a 14-5 lead into halftime. Despite having open shooting opportunities, ACCS could not find their rhythm. Head coach Rick Fife remarked, “Our shots just were not falling in the first half. We had some open looks.”
The second half saw a significant shift as the Rebels made defensive adjustments, allowing them to claw back into contention. They outscored Riverfield 15-13 in the third quarter, narrowing the deficit to 27-20 by the start of the final period. A strong fourth quarter propelled ACCS to victory, highlighted by two crucial free throws from Trevin Barnes with just eight seconds remaining. Barnes led the Rebels with 13 points, while Landry Tyson contributed 12 points.
Fife praised the team’s defensive efforts in the second half, stating, “Our defense led to some easy transition baskets in the third and fourth quarters.” The Rebels not only improved their shooting but also out-rebounded Riverfield, a pivotal factor in their comeback. With this victory, ACCS improved its overall record to 2-7 and 1-2 in District 3-3A. Fife indicated the importance of this win, noting, “It was big coming back from Christmas. It was also big because the district only takes the top four teams for South State.”
Looking ahead, the Rebels will face St. Aloysius High School on January 5, 2024, at 19:30 in Vicksburg.
In the girls’ matchup, the ACCS Lady Rebels faced a tougher challenge, losing to the Riverfield Academy Lady Raiders 43-32. The game remained competitive through three quarters, with ACCS trailing by just one point, 30-29, heading into the final period. However, the Lady Rebels faltered in the fourth quarter, managing only three points while allowing Riverfield to pull ahead with a 13-point effort.
Lady Rebels head coach Marcus Walton acknowledged the team’s struggle, saying, “Riverfield is a very well-coached team. We started out well. But we kind of wore down and didn’t execute well. We had too many turnovers.” Despite the loss, Walton expressed hope that the experience would foster team unity as they prepare for upcoming games.
Isley Walton was the leading scorer for ACCS with eight points, followed by D’Kiyah Davis with seven. Riverfield’s Audrey Weatherly led all scorers with 16 points. The Lady Rebels now hold a record of 4-7 overall and 1-2 in district play, with their next game against St. Aloysius set for January 5, 2024, at 18:00.