Sage Gunn (22) goes up to score for the Generals during the boys’ game.

Newton County Academy played host to the Jackson Victors homeschool squads Monday night, with the Lady Victors taking a 37-36 squeaker over the Lady Generals in the opening contest and the Generals coming out on top, 58-47, in the nightcap. 

Despite the loss, Lady Generals head coach Michael Alexander said he saw some positives from his young squad. 

“We played a good game — our first complete game of the year where we got something out of everyone,” Alexander said. “We shared the basketball and didn’t care who put it in the basket. We’re getting ready for district play, which begins after Christmas, and I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

The Lady Generals got good paint play from AnnaLaurel Moody, who took passes from point guard Kelli Hollingsworth and converted them into eight points to overcome a 7-2 deficit in the first quarter. Kaleigh Cosgrove drained a 3-pointer to keep the Lady Victors from falling back to guard Moody, and Hollingsworth sank a jumper at the buzzer to give NCA a 13-7 lead after one quarter. 

The Lady Victors, behind the shooting of Olivia Witt, narrowed the gap to three points. NCA led on the boards, but Witt was opportunistic and hit on a long trey near the end of the second quarter to make it a 22-19 game in favor of the Lady Generals at the half. 

Defense was on display in the third frame with Jackson outscoring NCA 9-4 giving the Lady Victors their first lead, 28-26, after three quarters of play. 

The Lady Generals got Moody the ball in the paint in the final period, and behind the play of her, Brittany Harrison and Cosgrove, NCA took a 36-30 lead with 2:50 remaining in the game. The Lady Generals still had no answer for Witt, however, who scored all nine of the Lady Victors’ fourth-quarter points. Witt hit a 3-pointer with 1:16 remaining to get Jackson within one, 36-35, and sank a jumper with 35 seconds left in the game to give the Lady Victors a 37-36 lead that NCA couldn’t overcome. 

Moody led NCA with 16 points, followed by Cosgrove and Harrison with six apiece. 

Witt led Jackson with 16 points. 

NCA fell to 2-8 on the year.

 

NCA BOYS 58,

JACKSON VICTORS 47

 

The Generals came out and fell behind the Victors, 11-2, after one quarter but came alive in the second frame when Bailey McDill, Ethan McDill, Sage Gunn, Braden Smith and Luke Alexander made clutch baskets, as NCA outscored Jackson 18-14 in the second quarter to only trail by three, 25-23, at halftime. 

Generals coach, Tanner Smith said he told his guys at the break good things would happen if they played the way they prepared. 

“I just told them to keep doing what we do, make smart shots, smart passes and to keep their feet moving on defense,” Smith said. “I wasn’t pleased with our free throw shooting, but I was really proud of their hustle and that they kept their attitudes positive.”

The Generals gave up a Victors basket to start the third quarter and then went on an 11-0 run to help NCA outpace Jackson 22-7 in the third frame, making the score 44-32 with one quarter remaining. 

Jackson got within eight points late in the fourth quarter, but Ethan McDill scored in the paint and Alexander sank three free throws to give the Generals the 58-47 win. 

Bailey McDill led NCA with 15 points, followed by Gunn’s 12 points and Ethan McDill’s 11 points. 

Braden Smith scored seven, and Alexander went for six. 

The Generals (5-3) will play host to Hartfield Academy Saturday afternoon.