Boyd Christian School was looking to add to its win total Tuesday night versus the Grace Christian Academy Lions. These two teams match up very well, but it would be the defense and sharp shooting from the free-throw line that would give Boyd the win, defeating the Lions by a score of 59-46.
The Broncos came in with a district record of 8-1 and Grace Christian Academy with a district record of 7-3.
Colin Stubblefield led Boyd with a game-high 18 points.
Starting the fourth quarter down by 11 points, the Lions felt a sense of urgency. The Broncos were out front 41-30 over the Lions and Boyd continued to push the tempo. The Lions would not give up any easy points, sending Boyd to the free-throw line for all but two of its points in the final quarter of play.
The Lions would cut the lead to five points, 49-44, with under three minutes to play but it was as close as the Lions would get. The Lions would try and make the Broncos earn it by shooting free-throws and Boyd did just that. Boyd shot 16-of-20 from the charity stripe and Isaiah Blanton was the only Bronco who scored a field goal to carry Boyd through the final period.
Any Bronco who touched the ball late in the game would draw contact from Grace Christian Academy.
Trey Cantrell, Tyler Beaty, and Tyler Judkins all connected from the free-throw line down the stretch. Lions who fouled out were Nick Whitson and Demontay Dixon, as well as two others who finished with four fouls each.
The offense for the Lions picked up late in the game, but without stopping Boyd, a comeback was just not going to work in the Lions favor. The Broncos forced their opponent to run the ball down and kept the Lion defense in chaos and would cage the Lions in the fourth quarter by a final score of 59-46.
The Lions actually got off to a great start by keeping Boyd on its heels and getting the ball deep inside and connecting on one long-range shot from behind the 3-point line. But Boyd coach Buddy Majors made adjustments and quickly ended any run the Lions attempted to make. With the two teams heading into the half Boyd had claimed the lead, 26-23.
BRONCO SCORING – Colin Stubblefield 18, Tyler Beaty 12, Isaiah Blanton 11, Tyler Judkins 10, Trey Cantrell 8
LION TOP SCORERS – Demontay Dixon 17, Blake Kincaid 9