Trojan teams at their best in taking pair from Grace Christian

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Fullington Academy’s Gavin Reed drives to the basket. In a Saturday home game vs. Grace Christian of Bainbridge, the Trojans prevailed 78-65. Bonnie Hauesler/Dispatch Correspondent
Fullington Academy’s Darrian Bailey (L) heads down the court in action at home where the host school swept a Saturday doubleheader from Grace Christian of Bainbridge. Bonnie Hauesler/Dispatch Correspondent

January 5, 2013

Trojan teams at their best in taking pair from Grace Christian

Harvey Simpson Cordele Dispatch The Cordele Dispatch Sat Jan 05, 2013, 06:58 PM EST

Pinehurst — Fullington Academy girls coach Mike Cason felt his team “might have had our best game of the season.” Trojans’ mentor Van Bailey knew “without a doubt” that was the case for his squad.

Both expressed those opinions after a Saturday afternoon doubleheader that saw the Lady Trojans prevail 51-39 and the Trojans come out on top 78-65.

The wins came in the first region pairings of the season and bettered the host school’s overall records to 3-6 (girls) and 4-5 heading into a 6:30 p.m. Tuesday twin bill here against Georgia Christian.

Fullington 51, Grace 39 (girls)

In snapping a three-game losing streak, the Lady Trojans beat or equaled their Bainbridge-based guests in every quarter. They thus owned advantages of 12-8, 20-16 and 34-22 heading into the backstretch where the teams battled to a 17-17 draw.

“We really got after it on defense where we played a 1-3-1 zone the entire game and also did a real good job from the free throw line (sinking 12 of 16 attempts),” a beaming Cason said. “I don’t have the official rebounding stats, but I think we outrebounded them, too.

“On the down side, we still made too many turnovers — 15 or more — but overall I’m happy to be where we are in the region right now.”

Rachel McCleskey, who scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and made all eight of her free throws, led the winners’ scoring with 26 points. Darrian Bailey also had a big game with 15. Emily Durr dropped in 21 for the visitors who got another 12 from Jasmine Kelly.

Score by Quarters

Grace Christian 8-8-6-17 — 39

Fullington 12-8-14-17 — 51

Scoring

   Grace Christian (39) — Emilee Durr 21, Kelsey Harrell 4, Shelby Woodrum 2, Jasmine Kelly 12, Lindsey Duke.

   Team totals: field goals 15; free throws 6 of 12 (50-%); fouls 12; 3-pointers — Durr 3; fouled out — Durr.

   Fullington (51) — Darrian Bailey 15, Meredith McGlamory, Lena van Assendelft 4, Rachel McCleskey 26, Leah Thompson, Madison Warbington 6, Lex van Assendelft, Alyssa Edwards.

   Team totals: field goals 18; free throws 12 of 16 (75%); fouls 16; 3-pointers — Bailey 1, McCleskey 2; fouled out — none.

Fullington 78, Grace 65 (boys)

Held to a total of 70 points in their two previous games combined, the Trojans went on a scoring rampage fueled in large part by their scrappy defensive effort.

“We played hard defense like we always do and it really paid off,” a grinning Bailey said. “We knew the Bowen kid (Phillip) would get his points (he had 27) so we wanted to get a hand in his face and shut down the others.

“By throwing several different presses and looks at them we pretty much were able to keep them off balance. Our press definitely keyed the 20-2 run we went on to start the third quarter and take the lead for good.”

It was in that same period that Mark McCleskey hit three of the six treys he drained on his way to a career-high 20 points. His outside shots forced Grace to stretch its zone and when it did David Roney hurt them inside getting 14 of his career-high 27 points in the last 12 minutes.

Levi McKinney pumped in a season-high 24 points for the victors and yanked down 10 rebounds while joining Roney, who had a dozen boards, in posting a double-double. Braden Shealy contributed several assists to the cause.

Score by Quarters

Grace Christian 12-21-12-20 — 65

Fullington Academy 19-16-25-18 — 78

Scoring

   Grace Christian (65) — Brent Noble 14, Bryce McQuaid 5, Austin McQuaid 7, Brent Warr 5, Phillip Bowen 27, Jack McRae 7.

   Team totals: field goals 25; free throws 8 of 14 (57.1%); fouls 17; 3-pointers — Noble 1, Warr 1, Bowen 5; fouled out — McRae.

   Fullington (78) — Levi McKinney 24, Dane Balley 1, Paul Dossett 3, Ty Tyndal, Jim Hartin, Braden Shealy, Mark McCleskey 20, Daniel Cape 3, David Roney 27.

   Team totals; field goals 31; free throws 10 of 19 (52.6%); fouls 16; 3-pointers — McCleskey 6; fouled out — none.

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