Dorian Moultrie’19 (Photo/Chris Heerman’18. Media Team)
After going 3-1 over winter break, including winning the Briggs Holiday tournament, the CA boys basketball team returned to action, hosting Northridge on Wednesday, January 4. The game didn’t go as planned, however, as Northridge got the better of the Academy, 57-42. Academy led by 2 at halftime, but went cold in the second half, allowing Northridge to cruise to a win. It was CA’s worst loss of the season, and it came at the worst time: right before a matchup against Bexley. But not even a rough loss would keep the Vikes from playing their best against their bitter foe.
The Vikings traveled to Bexley on Saturday, January 7, to continue a rivalry filled with bad blood. Trash talk preceded the game, and emotions were running high from the moment the ball was tipped.
Initially it looked like the Lions were prepared to back up their talk. They took a 13-10 lead after the first quarter and continued to pour it on from there. Next, they ripped off a 20-5 point run that spanned the entire second quarter and spilled into the third. Academy’s student section was shocked as its team had now fallen behind 33-15.
But the resilient Vikings refused to quit. They began chipping away at the lead and had sliced the deficit down to 35-28 after the third quarter.
The break did not cool down the Vikes, as they continued to score at will throughout the fourth quarter. Senior captain Ryan Alexander and sophomore Dorrian Moultrie slashed into the paint for layups. Alexander finished with 13 to lead the Vikings, and Moultrie added 10. Senior captain Nick Stringer and sophomore Chris Boyle knocked down big jumpers down the stretch as well. On the other end, the Vikes played suffocating defense, forcing the Lions into a long scoring drought. Soon, it was the Bexley student section that was sweating, watching its 18-point lead slip away.
Academy finally took its first lead of the game with 2:20 left, 36-35. After the two teams traded layups, Boyle was fouled on a shot with 5 seconds remaining. The sophomore knocked down a clutch-free throw to put the Vikings up 39-37.
A desperation three by the Lions glanced off the backboard, and the Academy faithful spilled onto the court, celebrating a crucial win for Coach Jeff Warstler’s squad.
Despite only going 1-1 in these two games, it was a positive stretch for the Vikes. Not only did it show how fast they could bounce back from a loss but it also proved that they can win in a hostile environment on the road. Both qualities will be important as Academy heads into the meat of its schedule with a 6-3 record.
The Vikes travel to Grandview Heights to take on the 8-1 Bobcats on Tuesday, January 10.
