Russell Christian Academy seniors Olivia Faulkner and Sara Brewster met for the first time at Russell Christian’s cheerleader tryouts last year, but it wasn’t until an extended stay in Texas that the bond between the two became stronger.

Faulkner and Brewster were roommates at Southwestern Assemblies of God University during a Christian Cheerleaders of America camp last July and shared more in common than their love of cheerleading. 

Faulkner transferred to Russell Christian from Newton County Academy as a sophomore, and Brewster had recently transferred to RCA from Southeast Lauderdale High School. Like Faulkner, Brewster, too, was a basketball player. It didn’t take long for Faulkner to share her enthusiasm for Warriors’ basketball with her new teammate.

“She would tell me about the bus rides, and how Coach (Karen Nolan) was,” Brewster recalled. “She told me about practice and everything.”

While Faulkner and Brewster transferred to RCA late in their high school careers, fellow senior Makenna Deavers has been at the school since she was an elementary student. She quickly welcomed Faulkner and Brewster into the Warriors’ family.

“When they came to school, it was really cool, because you get new friends,” Deavers said. “Both of them are really cool and have great personalities. And it’s great on the court because we’re so close — we have classes together and spend time together. It’s great to have them on the court doing their best, and we can all support each other.”

Deavers, Brewster, Faulkner and the rest of the Lady Warriors basketball team went 7-13 this season in a year that saw Faulkner score the 1,000th point of her career. She ended her high school career with 1,012 points — just the second person in Lady Warriors’ basketball history to do so — and averaged 10 points per game. But despite her accomplishments in the gymnasium this season, Faulkner said what she will remember most about her time as a member of the basketball team is the Christian environment fostered by Nolan and the school’s other coaches. 

“The Christian atmosphere and the coaches and the effect they had on my life spiritually, and the encouragement in those areas,” Faulkner said of what will stand out most to her when looking back at her time at the school. 

Nolan recognized Faulkner’s contributions.

“My point guard graduated the year before Olivia came to Russell, so she was able to step right in as a sophomore and fill that position,” Nolan said. “She has had a great career at RCA hitting her 1,000th varsity career point this year — that’s quite an accomplishment. She is the second female to hit 1000 points at RCA.”

Brewster said RCA’s religious teachings are applicable on the basketball court.

“I feel that it brings us closer to being a family, and with our walk with God,” she said. “I’m glad that I made the transfer — I wish I would have come earlier, to be honest.”

Brewster netted a few starts and received plenty of minutes this past season.

“I’ve only been able to coach her for one year, but she has been a great addition to the team,” Nolan said. “She has a pretty outside shot and has a great disposition that has added so much to the team.” 

Having been at the RCA since fourth grade, Deavers said its close-knit atmosphere is appealing not only to transfers like Faulkner and Brewster, but to longtime students such as herself.  

“I like the teachers, and how they really care about the students and their well-being,” Deavers said. “It’s not just at school, but outside of school. They always tell us that if we have something going on that’s hard emotionally, we can talk to them about it, and they can help us.”

Nolan first coached Deavers in junior high.

“She has been with me since the seventh grade,” Nolan said. “I have enjoyed coaching her through all of those years.”