The Newton County Academy High School Generals defeated the Meridian Christian Home Educators Flyers 58-13 in one of the nine games of the second annual Christmas Bash hosted by Lamar School Tuesday. 

Generals coach Tanner Smith emphasized a pass-first offensive game plan, with the goal of getting the ball inside to center Bailey McDill. Smith got that and much more from his squad with McDill collecting 12 points while playing a little over two quarters. Braden Smith kept the Flyers from focusing on McDill by driving to the lane for baskets, ending his night with 11 points before getting a breather at the halfway point of the third and for all of the fourth period. 

“I told the guys before the game to try and work the ball inside and not be lazy,” Tanner Smith said. “I was happy with the way they are coming together and communicating, helping each other on defense, and our shots are falling on offense.”

Braden Smith echoed his coach afterwards. 

“We communicated well tonight, and played pass-first (on) offense; we also played good team defense that helped us get points in transition,” Braden Smith said. 

Flyers coach Mark Allison saw his young squad absorb the loss, but he saw a team that is improving game after game. 

“This is a building year, as we have a lot of young players, so it’s not as much about wins and losses, but more about learning how to compete. And we’ve improved a little each game,” Allison said. “We haven’t given up in a game and our entire team is working together with no inner turmoil that has helped us get a little more consistent each game.”

Steven Miller drained a 3-pointer for the Flyers to start the game’s scoring, but McDill, Smith and Dawson Blackledge led the Generals to an 18-0 run to give NCA an 18-3 lead after a quarter of play. Dalton Hollingsworth dominated the offensive boards and played air-tight defense in the paint during the Generals’ run. 

Dalton Sibley and McDill helped NCA keep the momentum in the second quarter as the Generals outscored the Flyers 20-5 to take a 38-8 lead into the halftime break. Hayden Riggs scored the Flyers’ only points in the second quarter. 

The Generals’ defense came out firing on all cylinders in the third quarter and held the Flyers scoreless for the entire quarter, but the Flyers played good defense also, holding NCA to only seven points to make it a 46-8 game with one quarter of play remaining. 

Luke Alexander and Sibley connected on 3-pointers, and Alexander also got a fast-break layup in the final frame to help NCA cruise to the 58-13 win. 

McDill led all scorers with 12 points, followed by Smith with 11 and Blackledge’s nine. Sibley and Alexander tossed in eight apiece and Hollingsworth scored four points along with good defensive play and strong rebounding. 

Riggs led the Flyers with five points. 

The tournament will resume Thursday with the first of four scheduled games set to begin at 3pm.