It was apparent from the opening introductions that the Heritage Christian Academy girls’ basketball team might be in for a long night in the paint against visiting Franklin Road Christian on Friday night, with the Lady Warriors giving up size at every spot on the floor.
While HCA hung tough in the first half with scrappy defense and double-figure scoring from Kinley Deason, the Minutemen made their size advantage count in the second half on the way to a 60-32 victory.
Kinley Deason scored 5 of the Lady Warriors’ 8 first-quarter points, but Franklin Christian’s Presley Applegate got off to a scorching start with 11, and the Minutemen led 16-8 after one.
The Lady Warriors found their scoring touch in the second quarter with 5 points from Abbi Bullock and trailed only 22-17 after a Deason jumper from the wing with 3:00 left in the half. HCA’s Lianna Carr had a good look at a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but it rolled off, and Franklin Road led 27-20 at the break.
Applegate added 6 points, and Megan Ramos chipped in 4 in the third for Franklin Road, and they led by 13 midway through the quarter. Deason scored 4, including a straight-away 3-pointer with :18 left, but HCA trailed 41-28 going to the fourth.
The Minutemen continued to build the lead behind 8 fourth-quarter points from Ellie Baxter, and HCA went cold with only 4 points in the frame. The Lady Warriors didn’t do themselves any favors at the free-throw line, finishing 11/23 in a 28-point loss.
Deason’s 16 led HCA, followed by Bullock with 11. Bailey Craft and Hallie Zieg each had a basket, and Carr had a point.
Franklin Road’s Applegate led all scorers with 24, with Ramos finishing with 12, and Baxter adding 10.
HCA will be back on its home court at noon tomorrow when they open the KCAA Holiday Classic against MICAH Christian Academy. Depending on the early games’ outcome, the Lady Warriors will play again in the evening against either Oak Ridge Christian or Community Christian Academy.
