Tuesday, Feb. 12 2013 2:52PM

Soaring past

Eagles push through Sherwood

By Stephanie Yeagle

syeagle@lsjournal.com

After gaining a 22-17 lead at the end of the first quarter, all Summit Christian Academy had to do was keep it against Crossroads Conference foes Sherwood.

And the Eagles did just that, soaring to a 68-58 victory Feb. 8 at Summit Christian Academy.

“We allowed a few late baskets, but played a solid game,” Summit Christian Academy head coach Jake Kates said. “We established the inside game early with Greg Nicoll playing strong. That really opened up our outside game.”

Nicoll put in seven points in the first quarter to help the Eagles gain that advantage. In the second quarter, Sherwood fought to close the gap to 24-20, but Summit Christian Academy came back with a three-pointer and basket from junior guard Taurin Hughes to pull ahead 29-20. Later, with the score at 31-27, the Eagles went on a 7-0 run to the end of the quarter with two more shots from Hughes, a basket from Nicoll and a free throw from junior guard Donovan Kim to give Summit Christian Academy a 38-27 edge at halftime.

“The thing that won the game for us was our pressure defense,” Kates said. “We were able to turn Sherwood over and then score off of those turnovers. Hughes had another great game along with Nicoll. Harrison Shearer did some good things coming off the bench and giving us an offensive spark.”

In the third quarter, the Marksmen outscored Summit Christian Academy 14-11 to edge closer at 49-41. In the fourth quarter, with the score at 53-4, the Eagles went on another run, this time for nine points, with a basket apiece by Nicoll, Hughes and senior guard Matt Collier, plus a three-pointer from Kim to gain a 62-44 advantage.

The Eagles were led in scoring by Hughes with 27 points and Nicoll with 19 points. Shearer had 10 points, Collier had six points, Kim added four and Henry Stratton had two.

With the win, Summit Christian Academy moves to 13-9 overall and 5-1 in conference.