(HARDIN, Ky.) – New Covenant Christian Academy’s varsity basketball programs closed out the first weekend of December with matching second-place finishes at separate holiday tournaments, bringing home trophies in both girls’ and boys’ competition.
The Lady Lions fell 39-26 to host Academy of Individual Excellence in the championship game of the Kentucky Christian Athletic Association Holiday Classic in Louisville on Saturday night, Dec. 6. AIE fielded a veteran lineup with three seniors and two juniors.
Despite the loss, NCCA placed two players on the all-tournament team: eighth-grader Aggey Kelly of Almo and junior point guard Jaye Williams of Murray. Senior Jacey Crowell of Symsonia led the Lady Lions in the final with eight points, while Kelly and sophomore Whitney Harrison of Benton each contributed six.
“Our girls brought the defensive energy from start to finish this weekend,” said head coach Greg Taylor of Murray. “I’m so proud of their effort. All of the hard work in the off-season is paying off.”
The Lady Lions secured their championship berth with a defensive clinic against Oak Ridge Christian Academy of Morgantown, holding the Lady Warriors scoreless from the field in the second half of a 24-19 victory Saturday afternoon. Kelly paced NCCA with 10 points.
In Friday’s tournament opener, the Lady Lions edged Legacy Christian Academy of Bowling Green 43-40 in a tightly contested matchup. Williams hit a crucial free throw with 12 seconds remaining, and Crowell sealed the victory with a steal at the buzzer. Freshman guard Cecily Ray of Hardin led all scorers with 16 points.
Taylor coaches alongside assistants Jeni Harrison of Benton and Carissa Jackson of Farmington.
Meanwhile, NCCA’s boys’ team earned their runner-up trophy at Belmont Christian Academy in Morgantown, falling 66-54 to Valor Christian Academy of Owensboro in Saturday evening’s championship game.
Brothers Crider Cunningham, a junior, and Finley Cunningham, a freshman, both from Dexter, earned all-tournament recognition. Finley Cunningham scored 13 points in the final, while sophomore Shadow Smith of Murray added 12 and junior Toby Jackson of Farmington chipped in 10.
“The most exciting thing to me as a coach right now is the resilience of my guys to keep pushing through adversity by doing the small things right and playing for each other,” said head coach Joey Adair of Almo.
The Lions reached the championship with a commanding 71-48 third-round victory over tournament host Belmont in a rematch of their opening-round loss. Jackson erupted for 23 points, and junior Joseph Vaughn of Almo grabbed 12 rebounds.
In second-round action, NCCA routed Northside Baptist Christian School of Mayfield 75-36, with Crider Cunningham scoring 18 points, his brother Finley adding 14, and sophomore George Thomas of Murray pulling down 12 rebounds.
The Lions opened tournament play with a 58-47 loss to Belmont, though Finley Cunningham poured in 24 points in the setback.
Adair is assisted by Blake Jackson of Farmington and Ricky Cunningham of Dexter. The boys compete in the Kentucky Christian Schools Athletic Association, while the girls play in the KCAA.
New Covenant Christian Academy, which opened in fall 2010, serves students from preschool through high school and offers seven varsity sports. The school provides Christ-centered, biblically-based education at its campus at 218 College St. in Hardin. Additional information is available at www.nccaky.org.
