The Middle School Boys’ and Girls’ basketball teams posted strong, winning seasons this winter, making the best of a year impacted by COVID-19 and building experience and teamwork that will result in continued success in coming years. ACS also launched a new developmental league that met on Saturdays and gave 30 middle school boys who did not play on the team a chance to develop and strengthen their ball-playing skills.
MS Girls Squad
The ACS Middle School Girls’ squad were undefeated with a 6-0 record going into their final game to be played this Friday, February 26 away at Calvary Academy in Lakewood, New Jersey.
Leading scorers for the team were 8th grader Taylor Murphy, who averaged 6.83 points per game, 7th grader Gianna Flynn, who averaged 4.5 points per game, and 7th grader Sophia Costello, who averaged 4 points per game.
“As a team, we would like to thank Athletic Director Pamela Hitchner for her dedication to our basketball teams this season,” said faculty member and ACS alumnus Grant Miller (’07), in his 3rd year as head coach. “We are very proud of our girls and how they have grown on the basketball court, but more importantly in their walks with Christ. We have seen a tremendous amount of confidence, aggressiveness, teamwork, and compassion. We pray the Lord will continue to work in our lives as we grow closer to Him.” Coach Miller was assisted by his wife, Minelva, and ACS parent Rick Jackson.
The 15 members of the Middle School Girls’ Basketball team were: Alexis Andujar, Angela Awad, Sophia Capito, Katie Colella, Sophia Costello, Gianna Flynn, Kiera Frontino, Lucy Huff, Sophia Johnson, Taylor Murphy, Ava Nixon, Nadia Pearson, Skyler Shivers, Taylor Sutton, and Anyae Welch.
MS Boys’ Main Squad
The ACS Middle School Boys’ basketball season finished its season with an 8-2 record. A pair of games against King’s Christian School wrapped up the season in dramatic fashion. After King’s took the first game at ACS on February 22 with a heart-breaking buzzer-beater, ACS traveled to Cherry Hill on February 24 and found redemption with a hard-fought 45-40 overtime win. “It was a thrilling end to a unique season, playing through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said coach and ACS parent Lee Martin, in his third year as head coach. Martin was assisted by ACS parents Jenna Cook and Charlie Costello.
Despite minimal practice time due to limited gym availability, the boys quickly picked up the offensive and defensive schemes and learned to play together as a unit, ultimately turning in their best all-around performance to end the year on a high note. Leading scorers for the season were 8th grade newcomer CJ Ford, who averaged just over 13 points per game and returning 8th grade point guard Jayden Dixon, who averaged 10.5 points per game. Head coach Lee
The 13 members of the Middle School Boys’ Basketball team were: John Cook, Charlie Costello, Ethan Costello, Micah D’Anna, Judah Dawkins, Jayden Dixon, CJ Ford, Caden Kim, Chase Leach, Joseph McCrae, Jayden Sanchez, Adam Schlundt, and Justice Settles.
MS Boys’ New Developmental League
When nearly 30 6th-8th grade boys tried out for the middle school basketball team in early January, Coach Lee Martin knew he had a unique opportunity on his hands. Clearly, a team of 30 players was out of the question, and after two days of tryouts, a main squad of 13 players was selected. With 7 of those players being in 8th grade, the coaching staff was already thinking about next season and how to develop players with potential but just “weren’t quite there yet.”
After some brainstorming with Athletic Director Pam Hitchner, Coach Martin invited the boys who did not make the main squad to participate in a new “Developmental League” (D-League) on Saturdays. Fifteen boys, divided into two rosters (Green & White), joined this new program designed primarily to help younger players gain the fundamental skills and experience to prepare for tryouts next season.
Each week included an hour of conditioning and skills training, similar to a main squad practice, as well as a regulation game with coaches Marques Chaney and Charlie Costello, referees, and official scoring and stats. The D-League will wrap up on Saturday, February 27, with the last of a five-game series, followed by an awards ceremony to honor the team with the most wins and individual players who excelled in various aspects of the game.
The coaches are hopeful that the D-League program will continue next season and beyond, developing younger players and strengthening the middle school and high school basketball program for years to come.
