The Evangel Christian Eagles gave evidence of why they are considered one of the top teams in Jefferson County this season Saturday night. Evangel scored the first five points of the game and never trailed as they picked up an 87-46 win over the Christian County Colonels in the third game of the Akridge Ace Hardware Shootout at Lyon County High School.
Evangel, who finished as the runner-up to Newport in this year’s All A Classic came out and went right at the Colonels from the very beginning, jumping out to a quick 12-3 lead. The Eagles would score the final 11 points of the first quarter, including a buzzer-beater three from Andreas Jimenez-Conway to take a 28-11 lead after the opening eight minutes.
Not only did Evangel open playing well offensively, the Eagles also did the job of containing Derrell Bateman. Bateman still managed nine points in the first half but the Evangel defense never let him take over stretches of play like he has been known to do when he gets rolling, during the opening half.
Led by Bateman and Jordan Miles, Christian County opened the second quarter with a quick 6-0 run to cut the lead to 28-17. But that would be about it for a comeback effort. Evangel closed out the half with a 14-5 spurt to go to the half leading 42-22.
The Eagles came out of the locker room and promptly delivered the final knockout blow for the night. Evangel scored the first seven points of the second half to run their lead out to 49-22 and effectively put the game away.
Evangel continued to extend the lead throughout the third as their hot shooting continued and their defensive pressure began to cause the Colonels ball security issues, which it turn lead to run out opportunties for the Eagles. A late basket in the third put the Eagles up 70-35 and brought the running clock into play.
Reserves for the Eagles, all four of them, saw extensive play over the final eight minutes of the contest.
Derrell Bateman was the top scorer for Christian County with 19 points. Jordan Miles also hit double figures with 16.
Evangel had six players hit double figures led by Davier White with 17. Brayden Trice finished with 15. Kyren Tilley added 13, 10 of them coming in the first half of play.
With the loss, the Colonels drop to 10-15 for the season. Christian County is back in action Monday night on the road at Russellville.
ECHS — 28 14 28 17 – 87
CCHS — 11 11 13 11 – 46
Evangel Christian – White 17, Trice 15, Tilley 13, Jimenez-Conway 12, Doerr 11, Chitapa 11, Djema 8
Christian County – Bateman 19, Miles 16, Riley 6, Bigbee 2, Bridges 2, Quarles 1
