Crusaders Into Final 4
The Crusader basketball teams of Robert Toombs Christian Academy took part in the GISA State AA Basketball Tournament last week with the boys playing their way into the Final 4, while the girls fell in the first round to the #5 seed in the tournament.
Girls vs. SWG
The Lady Crusaders came into the tournament as the #12 seed and faced off with Southwest Georgia Academy, the #5 seed, in the first round of the playoffs. It was a tough game for RTCA as they struggled to get any offense going.
SWG had a 7-0 lead with just under three minutes to go in the first period of the game. Kylie Acosta got the first basket of the game for RTCA, but at the end of the first the score was 7-2 with RTCA trailing.
In the second the Warriors of SWG pushed their lead to 11-2. Ansley Akins made it 11-4 with five minutes left in the first half, but it was 21-5 with just 2:30 left in the half as SWG went on a run. At halftime the score was 26-6.
In the third the score was 31-12 with four minutes on the clock after a couple of baskets by Meredith Durden. At the end of the third period SWG was on top 44-12.
SWG went on to win the game over RTCA 56-14 to end the season for the Lady Crusaders. RTCA finished the season with a 6-12 record, but did win their Region title.
Boys vs. EBA
The boys' first round opponent was Edmund Burke Academy and the Crusaders hosted them on Wednesday of last week.
The Spartans jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but baskets by Jashaun Powell and Clayton Meadows tied the game at 4-4. Justin Walker, back from an injury, hit his first three-pointer of the game to put RTCA up 7-6 with 3:45 left in the first. MK McBride and Tyler Buggs each got baskets on fastbreaks as RTCA built up an 11-6 lead.
Walker and Buggs added to the continued from page
RTCA lead, but EBA came storming back in the final minute and hit a buzzer beater to tie the game at 15-15 at the end of the first period.
Early in the second the Spartans took the lead, but McBride hit a three to go back on top, 18-17. Walker made it 21-19 with a threepointer, but again EBA tied the game at 21-21. With 3:20 to go the Crusaders had built up a 30-21 lead, and at this point they began to take the game over.
Walker hit a jumper from 12 feet, and Powell made a strong move in the paint. The score at the end of the first half of the game was 35-21 with RTCA now holding a commanding lead.
In the second half of the game Powell added to the lead on a fast-break basket. With four minutes to go in the third Hayden Kight added a three-pointer for a 53-21 lead. Walker added to that with 2:30 left in the third as RTCA was in front 61-27. At the end of the third the score was 66- 33.
It was a mercy rule fourth period as RTCA was in front by more than 30 points. RTCA rolled to the win74-43 over EBA to move in to the second round of the playoffs.
RTCA was led by Walker with 21 points, Buggs added 10.
Boys vs. Gatewood
RTCA had to fight to get the win over the Gators of Gatewood at Tattnall Square in Macon on Saturday of last week.
Buggs put RTCA on the board first and then pushed that lead to 4-0. McBride hit a threepointer for a 7-0 lead, and then Walker made it 10-0. With three minutes to go in the first, Mc-Bride made it 13-2 with another three, and at the end of the first period the score was 15-9 as Gatewood went on a run in the final 1:30 of the period. In the second Gatewood closed the lead to 19-15. It was a low scoring second period, but by the end of the half the Crusaders led 27-23 over the Gators. In the third they closed it to 31-29, but McBride hit a shot for a 33-29 lead. Gatewood came back and actually took the lead over RTCA in the middle of the third period, but with just 1:30 left the Crusaders led 38-36. RTCA pushed that lead to 40-36, but a three-pointer for Gatewood just before the buzzer sent it to the fourth with RTCA up by just one, 40-39. In the fourth Walker got a runner to fall, and McBride hit a threepointer as RTCA built up a 49-42 lead with five minutes left in the game. Gatewood kept it close, and near the end of the game McBride fouled out putting RTCA in a bind as they were only on top by three points. RTCA hung on to win the game 61-56 over Gatewood. Walker led the way with 24 points, McBride added 20, and Buggs posted 11 in the win.
That win moves RTCA on to the Final 4 where they will play Brentwood Academy at Georgia Southwestern University on Friday of this week at 1:00 p.m. If they win that game, they will play on Saturday again at Georgia Southwestern at 4:00 p.m.
