Harvest Christian completes perfect NAC season
Basketball team always take their games up a notch when they face a big rival.
Tuesday night's boys game at Westminster Christian against Northeastern Athletic Conference foe Harvest Christian Academy was no exception.
Both teams played with a high level of intensity and displayed their emotion after key plays. Two times during the third quarter, officials felt Harvest Christian reacted too strongly and hit the Lions with technicals. The Lions took the calls in stride and kept on task, winning the conference finale, 66-57.
"I just have to give credit to my boys on how they overcame the adversity. We have told them before, there are going to be games played like this one. At the end of the day, every win is not going to be pretty but you've got the 'W'," said Harvest Christian coach Andre White, Sr. "Normally a team will get down when (technicals) happen, but knowing how the fouls were called, they gave us more energy. "
"It's a big rivalry. Especially this year, they are a top-ranked team in the state. They are good. I think we are pretty good too. We are just going through a rough stretch," said Westminster Christian coach Andy Zelinski "We lost five games in a row now, but they have been five tough games. I think we are ready for the regionals right now."
The win gave the Lions a perfect 11-0 league record to go along with their conference title.
Harvest Christian (22-4) spotted Westminster (16-9, 8-3) a 2-0 lead even before action started. The Lions were teed up for a dunk during warmups. Senior Elliott Brandon scored the first of his 14 points on the ensuing free throws.
The Warriors' lead did not last long. The Lions' first 4 baskets were all 3-pointers, two by Andre White Jr., who led all scorers with 22 points, and two by Dylan Lockwood.
Westminster Christian had a tough time scoring in the first two quarters. The squad had numerous shots that appeared to be sure baskets rim out.
"We missed five or six layups in the first couple of minutes that were just in an out," Zelinski noted.
Harvest Christian led 18-12 after the first quarter and widened its advantage to 32-22 at halftime.
The Warriors played a much better second half but were unable to close the gap.
Both teams scored 17 points in the third quarter keeping Harvest Christian's lead at 49-39.
Twice during the fourth quarter, the Warriors pulled with 6 points, both on Scott Graziano (15 points) layups. And both times, the Lions responded with baskets, one by White, Jr. and one by Brennen Woods (15 points) to return the margin to 8.
JJ Flores scored 12 points for Harvest Christian while Ben Versylus notched 12 for Westminster Christian.