Zack Myers ’23 could barely get to his feet at halftime Tuesday. The freshman guard had taken a hard fall on the final play of the second quarter and his status for the rest of the game was in doubt.
Zack not only returned but was one of the unsung heroes on a night where Christ School’s frontline muscled the varsity basketball team past visiting Asheville Christian Academy, 62-55.
Justice Ajogbor ’20 (18 points), De’Ante Green ‘22 (15), and Charlie Browder ’21 (11) accounted for more than two-thirds of the scoring. The Greenies made a concerted effort to get the ball into the post, but the trio knocked down outside shots and dominated the glass with their rebounding as well.
Zack and Drew Redmond ’21 added eight points apiece and Gabe Berardi ’22 had two. Playing through back soreness, Zack drew the biggest assignment of anyone in the Greenie Dome – slowing down the Lions’ best player, senior Tyler McKinney. McKinney burned the Greenies (12-11) for 19 points in the first half. But with Zack shadowing him at all times, McKinney was limited to six points in the second half.
Christ School-Asheville Christian Academy has developed into arguably the best rivalry in Carolinas Athletic Association basketball. The Lions and Greenies have gone back and forth in recent years and this season was no different – ACA won the first meeting, 71-58, on December 10. McKinney scored 34 points in that game and the Lions led wire-to-wire for a victory on their home floor.
The energy and result were different Tuesday. Christ School’s student section was as large and as lively as it has been all winter. And despite falling behind by as many as three points in the second half, the Greenies led 21-11 at the end of the first quarter and 35-33 at halftime.
The score was tied at 51-51 with 5:50 remaining in the game before Christ School went on a 7-0 run. With Tuesday’s win, the Greenies’ record is now above .500 for the first time this season. They started out 0-7 before righting the ship.
Christ School’s final regular-season game in the CAA is Friday at home against Carolina Day. Tip-off will be at 4:30 p.m. Since the game is during Winter Break, it will not be live-streamed by the Christ School Broadcast Network.