ACA cruises to 51-2 victory over Gaston Day

Lions defense stifles Spartans

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
November 20, 2021

When the ball went up for the opening tipoff, Nov. 19, in the gymnasium at Asheville Christian Academy, fans settled into their seats for a matchup between the 2-1 home team and 0-2 Gaston Day. The Lions needed less than a quarter of basketball to show they were in complete control on both sides of the court. 

ACA deployed a stifling defense, and a variety of offensive weapons to improve to 3-1 in the 2021-22 season, as they cruised to a 51-2 victory over the visiting Spartans. 

Emma Larios sparked the offensive attack for the Lions, scoring 10 points in the opening quarter. The senior guard, who finished the contest with 13 points, was one of three ACA players who scored in the double-digits. Junior Elizabeth Harrington led all scorers with 18, while Evangelia Paulk powered her way to 8 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 12. 

A swarming Lions defense disrupted the rhythm of the Gaston Day offense throughout the night, and propelled the team to a 36-2 halftime lead. As the offense sputtered in the third quarter, managing only 1 point, the ACA defense kept the Spartans off the scoreboard. The Lions added to their lead in the final frame, as they held the visiting team scoreless for a third consecutive quarter. 

The victory came two days after ACA’s first loss of the season, which came on the road against Legacy Early College, in Greenville, S.C. The Lions, who finished as the runner-up for the NCISAA 3A State Championship last season, will attempt to win their second straight when they host Greensboro Day School at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20.

Photos of ACA’s win over Gaston Day can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.