In a thrilling comeback, the varsity boys’ basketball team from Adams County Christian School (ACCS) overcame a challenging start to defeat Riverfield Academy 38-36 on January 3, 2024. The game, held at the Bub Ulmer Gym on ACCS’s campus in Natchez, marked the Rebels’ first win in the MAIS District 3-3A.
The first half was fraught with difficulties for the Rebels, who trailed by as much as nine points at halftime. Rick Fife, head coach of the Rebels, noted that his team had several opportunities to score but struggled to convert. By the end of the first quarter, ACCS was down 5-2, and the second quarter saw Riverfield extend that lead to 14-5.
“Our shots just were not falling in the first half. We had some open looks,” Fife said. The team’s fortunes changed in the second half, where adjustments in defense and improved shooting began to turn the tide.
Despite only managing 15 points in the third quarter, the Rebels narrowed the gap, with Riverfield leading 27-20 heading into the final quarter. In a decisive fourth quarter, ACCS outscored the Raiders 18-9, thanks in part to key contributions from Trevin Barnes and Landry Tyson. Barnes led the team with 13 points, while Tyson added 12.
“Our defense led to some easy transition baskets in the third and fourth quarters,” Fife explained. “We stayed with our 2-3 defense, but we covered better. We rebounded better. We were able to out-rebound them in the second half.”
With this victory, the Rebels improved their record to 2-7 overall and 1-2 in District 3-3A. Fife emphasized the significance of the win, stating, “It was big coming back from Christmas. It was also big because the district only takes the top four teams for South State.” The next challenge for the Rebels will be a district matchup against St. Aloysius High School on Friday at 19:30.
In the girls’ contest, the ACCS Lady Rebels faced a tougher challenge, falling to the Lady Raiders of Riverfield 43-32. Despite a strong performance for three quarters, the Lady Rebels entered the final quarter trailing by just one point, 30-29. Unfortunately, they struggled in the fourth, being outscored 13-3.
“Riverfield is a very well-coached team. We started out well, but we kind of wore down and didn’t execute well. We had too many turnovers,” said Marcus Walton, head coach of the Lady Rebels. “Hopefully, this loss will help us get closer together and we can win some of these games down the stretch.”
Leading the Lady Rebels, Isley Walton scored eight points, while D’Kiyah Davis contributed seven points. Other notable performances included Maddie Donaldson with five points and Sophia Carter with four points. Riverfield was led by Audrey Weatherly, who scored a game-high 16 points.
With this defeat, the Lady Rebels’ record stands at 4-7 overall and 1-2 in district play. They will also face St. Aloysius High School on Friday, with the game scheduled for 18:00.
