Faith Academy stacking up victories

January 04, 2013, 10:00 am by Mark Goodson

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

Faith Academy will take on Our Lady of the Hills in the final non-district games Monday for the Flames and Lady Flames at Faith Academy.

The Lady Flames, ranked No. 1 in the TAPPS small school state poll, carry a 21-1 record into the game against its former district rival.

The Lady Flames rolled through their tournament last week behind solid play on both ends of the court.

Bailey Brinkley leads the team in scoring. The starters are Brinkley, Joanna Piatek, Taylor Denton, Juliette Fisher and Rebecca Graham.

The Lady Flames are strong throughout the roster with Kristen Cherry, Sierra Brinkley, Hannah Cozby and Hailey Shipley logging solid minutes.

The Lady Flames carry a six-year district win streak into the team’s district opener Jan. 11 against Holy Trinity of  Temple on the road.

The Faith Academy boys had a solid tournament, picking up three wins to boost the team’s record to 5-7 overall.

"We turned the corner in the tournament,’’ said Faith Academy boys coach Andy Denton. "We had played Johnson City and lost by 10 or 12 earlier in the year and we beat them in the tournament by six in overtime.’’

The Flames improvement has come from extra playing time. The Flames got a late start because several of the players were on the playoff football team.

Lucas Wright has emerged as the team’s go-to scorer. The 6-1 senior had a solid tournament averaging double-figure scoring.

Reagan Vaughn, another top scoring threat and top rebounder on the team, has run on a stirng of injuries.

Vaughn sustained a knee contusion in the first game of the tournament and sit out two games before returning for a solid final game.

"He banged up right now,’’ Denton said. "he had that knee contusion and then he may have broke his nose against Johnson City.’’

If Vaughn isn’t available for Monday’s game 6-6 junior Matt Manley will start, Denton said.

Jake Diamond is the team’s starting point guard, joining Brian Freeman in the backcourt. Rich Coleman starts at forward.