Piketon pulled away for a 75-58 victory over Ross County Christian Academy at the Zane Trace Tip-Off Classic on Friday. For RCCA, the boys' basketball game marked the Eagles' first matchup against a public school.
Despite falling short, Eagles Coach Matt Jude praised his team's effort: "It was a big stage for us, but I think our boys responded well. Multiple times we cut that deficit. I thought we were going to go on a little run and then something would happen and kind of turn the tide, but we've got some more opportunities this year and we're looking forward to a great season."
Piketon Coach Kyle Miller noted that RCCA presented a tougher challenge than anticipated.
"They definitely are faster than they appeared on film, had more length than they appeared on film, and, quite frankly, are better basketball players than how it appeared on film," Coach Miller said. "They play an interesting style where the first look is going up, whereas a lot of high school teams in our area want the basketball to move and get it side-to-side, so it was a tough adjustment for us to navigate, 'Oh they're shooting this one.' They're always in attack mode and it almost throws you out of rhythm, so they deserve a ton of credit."
The Eagles are part of the Southern Ohio Christian Conference and compete against teams like Adams County Christian, Fayette Christian, Hillsboro Christian, and Wilmington Christian.
"We're a lot of young programs coming together trying to build something special for Christian schools in Southern Ohio," Coach Jude said.
The Redstreaks showcased their offensive firepower, shooting 60.4% from the field (32 of 53) and 50% from three-point range (7 of 14). RCCA finished 40.4% from the field (21 of 52) and 28.6% from beyond the arc (8 of 28).
Piketon's junior Bo Henry led all scorers with 27 points, while sophomore Jace Ritchie contributed 13. Juniors Luke Gullion and Treven Shanks each added 8 points.
"Piketon’s a hard team, and Bo Henry is no joke inside," Coach Jude said. "But our team played well and didn’t give up until the final whistle."
RCCA senior Gabe Bevan led his team with 19 points.
"It's just a different atmosphere," said Bevan. "We don't really get the crowd sizes or the noise ... but it's great, so blessed to be here, and just give all the glory to God; it's awesome to get the opportunity to play."
RCCA's freshman Reed Elliott scored 11 points, and junior Isaac Kellough chipped in 10.
Senior Samuel Clevenger emphasized the significance of the Zane Trace Tip-Off Classic for RCCA's growth: "It really helps us as a private school. This was the most fun I've ever had at a basketball game. Thanks to Piketon for playing us."
Next up for Piketon is a home game against Valley on Saturday, while RCCA will face Wilmington Christian Academy on Monday.
To listen to the game replay, click here!