The Wilson Post
LEBANON WEATHER

DCA sweeps at MJ Christian




Mt. Juliet Christian Academy ninth grader Shinae Johnson.Brad Jones

Mt. Juliet Christian Academy ninth grader Shinae Johnson.Brad Jones

Friday in Division II-A play — 

The host Mt. Juliet Christian Academy girls faced a big deficit in the first half Friday against Donelson Christian Academy, got within two points in the second half, but lost 44-40.

The MJCA boys team followed the same path and lost 59-50 the to DII-A Middle region leading Wildcats in Friday’s second game.

The Lady Wildcats (5-3, 1-2 DII-A Middle) led 14-4 after the first quarter and 22-11 at halftime, building those leads with a sprinting offense and quick, accurate passes.

MJCA (3-4, 0-3) outscored DCA 10-5 in the third quarter as Felicity Keen hit two 3-pointers.

The Lady Saints got the deficit down to two points multiple times in the fourth quarter but could never tie the game.

“We didn’t play well at the beginning but collectively we are playing well,” MJCA coach Bradley Farmer said.

“We have a real young team and this is a rivalry game for us so it was good to have games like this. The future is bright for us and I am very excited about the talent this group has.”

MJ Christian's Jordan WillisBrad Jones

MJ Christian’s Jordan WillisBrad Jones

One of those talented younger players is eighth grade point guard Shinae Johnson. She scored four of her five points in the fourth quarter, including a driving layup between two defenders early in the fourth quarter to cut DCA’s lead to 27-25.

Amelia Lyons led MJCA with 16 points, including nine in the fourth quarter. She was 6-of-7 from the field and made all three of her free throw attempts. Bethany Lyons added eight points, including two 3-pointers.

DCA made 8-of-10 free throws in the final five minutes and knocked down 15-of-20 free throws in the game.

(girls) DCA 44, MJCA 40

DCA (44): McGlasson 11, Dawson 11, Shrum 10, Lopez 7, Zapton 5.

MJCA (40): A. Lyons 16, B. Lyons 8, Keen 6, Johnson 5, Blackwell 5.

(boys) DCA 59, MJCA 50

Both teams were running and colliding with each other the entire game. The Wildcats (7-1, 2-1) held MJ Christian (3-5, 0-4) to six points in the second quarter to take a 30-21 lead at halftime.

DCA had built a 10-point lead in the second quarter and increased its lead to 13 points (42-29) at the end of the third quarter after MJCA scored a combined 14 points in the second and third quarters.

The Saints did not score in the second quarter until the 4:15 mark on Montrell Walker’s shot in the lane.

MJCA did not have its usual lineup as five players — including leading scorer Carter Branim — did not play because of the flu.

“We had players pulling big minutes tonight who had no minutes all year,” said MJCA coach Paul Christensen, who had no seniors on the roster.

“The thing I am proudest of is that we made no excuses because of that. The players we had put us into a position to win. It was just turnovers that cost us the game.”

The Saints had just four players score points, but three of them reached double figures.

Walker led MJCA with 16 points and Jordan Willis added 15 points, including two 3-pointers. Shawn Link scored 11 points.

(boys) DCA 59, MJCA 50

DCA (59): Singer 23, Carman 13, Anderson 9, Howell 5, Stanton 4, Parker 3, Charlton 2.

MJCA (50): Walker 16, Willis 15, Link 11, Nave 8.

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