GCA continues region play against Highland Christian, Terrell

Published 8:19 pm Tuesday, January 27, 2015

The Grace Christian Academy Cougars and Lady Cougars basketball teams posted a pair of wins over the Highland Christian School Eagles and Lady Eagles Tuesday in Valdosta and divided a pair of games with Dawson’s Terrell Academy Eagles and Lady Eagles Friday at Perry Memorial Gymnasium.

Tuesday’s action featured Dr. Mallory McRae’s Cougars defeating Highland 56-51 and coach Erwin Harrell’s Lady Cougars pounding the Highland 70-19.

Friday’s action featured the Cougars defeating Terrell 68-62 and the Lady Cougars bowing to Terrell 58-42.

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Jack McRae led Tuesday’s Cougar victory over Highland with 18 points. Noah Thomas put in 14 and Tre Dudley scored 11 and pulled down 11 rebounds. Nate Walton pulled down seven rebounds. Sam McRae had three steals and Jack McRae, Nate Walton and Tray Webb each had two steals,

In Friday’s win over win over Terrell, the Cougars had three players in double figures. Jack McRae led the way with 26 points. Noah Thomas added 21 and Sam McRae put in 11. Rebound leaders were Jack McRae with nine and Tray Webb with three. Webb also had four steals, Sam McRae had three steals and Trey Dudley had two steals.

The Cougars, who are 12-5 overall and 3-0 in the Georgia Independent Schools Association Region 3AA, and the Lady Cougars, who are 10-6 overall and 1-2 in Region 3AA play, will return to action Tuesday when they host Cordele’s Crisp Academy at Perry Memorial Gymnasium. They will host Harvest Christian School from Ozark Alabama, Monday, Feb. 9.

Tuesday against Highland the Lady Cougars were led by four players in double figures. Perra Harrell led the way with 24 points. Kaitlyn Holcombe added 13 and Kelsey Harrell and Shelby Woodrum put in 10 apiece. Perra Harrell had nine rebounds and Shelby Woodrum had seven. Kelsey Harrell had five assists and Perra Harrell had 12 steals.

Lady Cougars leaders against Terrell were Perra Harrell with 14 points and Kelsey Harrell with nine. Perra Harrell pulled down 10 rebounds and had four steals. Kelsey Harrell had three steals.

Dr. McRae said the Terrell victory was a huge on for his Grace Cougars team.

“We lost to Terrell on the road earlier in the season,” he said. “Our home game with them was very physical. Our guys handled it well and didn’t back down. We made our free throws down the stretch and that was the difference in the game.”

Lady Cougars coach Harrell said his team’s win over Highland was keyed by their pressure game.

“Our pressure against Highland was great,” he said. “We also shot 60 percent from the field. We can win a lot of games with that combination.”