CPA avenges loss to Bulldogs in convincing fashion

By Chris Yow

NASHVILLE — It was like deja vu all over again for Columbia Academy.

The Bulldogs (12-2, 7-1) fell victim to a sharpshooting Christ Presbyterian Academy (14-3, 8-1) on Tuesday behind 16 Lions 3-pointers, culminating in an 87-59 road loss.

This is the second year in a row where the Lions have avenged an earlier loss with a convincing win. Earlier this season, Columbia Academy got a home win 88-83 over the Lions.

Last season, CPA avenged a 15-point December loss with a 24-point win later in the season and another in the district tournament.

Columbia Academy’s Will Jackson opened the game with a trey, and the Lions immediately called a timeout. The Bulldogs kept the game tight early, going on several runs, but trailed 16-14 at the end of the first quarter.

That’s when CPA found the hot hand.

Outscoring Columbia Academy 24-14 behind four 3-pointers, the Lions found little resistance from their rim.

“We tried everything we had, and when they’re shooting it like that, they’re tough,” CA coach Marty DeJarnette said. “We knew that coming in.”

With the pace of play as quick as it was early in the game, DeJarnette felt his team didn’t contest shots quick enough to disrupt the Lions’ rhythm.

“We gave them too many rhythm threes,” he said. “We didn’t have quite the jump we needed to get out on them.

“Playing them in this gym is tough. We knew that coming in.”

One of the most glaring and consistent issues for Columbia Academy in the game was the inability to find the bottom of the net from near the rim. Missed lay ups turned the game into a shooting contest, and the Lions rarely missed.

“We struggled from all over the place. We hit some threes for a while, but if you get into a 3-point shooting contest with these guys, you gotta have some buckets,” DeJarnette said.

Coming out of the break, CPA guard Braeden Moore caught fire. The 6-8 junior poured in 13 of his game-high 27 points, including three long-balls to help his team pull away for good with a 26-14 scoring advantage in the frame.

“Credit to them, they played great tonight and deserved to win,” DeJarnette said. “I’m proud of the way our guys played, too. It was just their night.

“Our guys are resilient. They’re probably disappointed because they know we can play better, but (CPA) played at a high level tonight.”

Lady Lions stifle CA offense in win
With a quick pressure defense and successful transition offense, CPA made quick work of Columbia Academy with a 68-35 home win.

The Bulldogs had no answer for CPA’s in-your-face defense, and struggled to find open looks at the basket the entire game. CA’s Madi Lewis was the only Lady Bulldog to score more than four points in the game, while CPA had three in double figures and 11 of its players score.

CPA jumped out to an 18-10 lead after the first quarter and outscored the Lady Dogs 15-5 in the second to take a commanding 33-15 lead to the locker rooms.

A 16-10 advantage in the third could have been worse, but the Lady Lions were just 5-of-11 from the stripe in the quarter.

Conversely, the Lady Lions were a solid 12-of-17 in the fourth, and finished 20-of-35 for the game.

Next Up: Columbia Academy is set to host Webb-Bell Buckle on Friday before making the return trip on Saturday.

Christ Presbyterian Acad. girls 68, Columbia Acad. 35

CA 10 5 10 10 35
CPA 18 15 16 19 68

Columbia Acad. (35) – Jaelyn Hickerson 1, Isabelle Dees, 4, Averi Slaughter 3, Hallie Butterfield 3, Karlee Long 2, Madi Lewis 16, Abbigail Adkins 1, Ella Fuller 2, Karli Quillen 3
Christ Presbyterian Acad. (68) – Grace Ann Glisson 3, Virginia Glisson 6, Addie Reese Zapp 4, Ainsley Long 10, Addy Grace Summer 2, Sadie Gorley 10, Ava Maddux 5, Miller Mayernick 7, Emmaline Bartlett 12, Mary Carter Logan 8, Maggie Street 1
3-pointers – Columbia Acad. 4 (Lewis 2, Slaughter, Butterfield), CPA 8 (Long 2, Gorley 2, Logan 2, V. Glisson, Maddux)

Christ Presbyterian Acad. boys 87, Columbia Acad. 59

CA 14 14 15 16 59
CPA 16 24 26 21 87

Columbia Acad. (59) – Tanner Ham 12, Chase Duncan 2, Hayden Morgan 4, Drew Butt 9, Will Jackson 8, Ryan Bernath 2, Andre McClellan 5, Griffin Cooper 13, Gavin Morgan 2, CJ Durrough 2
Christ Presbyterian (87) – Jordan Dewalt 4, Jake Dykstra 11, Braden Zapp 12, Andy Nichols 6, Kolby Wright 15, Sam Smith 3, Braeden Moore 27, Evan Shiflet 6, Garrison Weeks 3
3-pointers – Columbia Acad. 5 (Ham 2, Jackson 2, Butt), CPA 16 (Dykstra 3, Zapp 4, Wright 3, Smith, Moore 4, Weeks)

Photos by Chris Yow/SM-Tn Sports

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