Bruins bully Lake Orion Baptist

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Three times Troy Bethany Christian and Lake Orion Baptist faced off on the basketball court last winter. The two split in Fundamental Baptist Athletic Conference Red Division play, with Lake Orion Baptist winning the rubber match in the Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division I sectionals.

This time, the game wasn’t even close.

Host Troy Bethany Christian outscored the visiting Lions in all four quarters and sent eight of 10 players into the scoring column in a 48-17 triumph.

“I know they lost a lot,” said veteran Troy Bethany Christian coach Jack Walker. “They will get (James) Noruk back in the second semester. That will help them. But they are young.”

Nothing would save the Lions on this night. All five starters from last year’s MACS Final Four team are gone for Lake Orion Baptist (0-3, 0-1) for the time being — three to graduation, one to transfer and another that will rejoin the team in January. Bethany Christian (5-2, 1-0) took full advantage of that.

No player scored more than five points for Lake Orion Baptist.

“Their point guard (Connor Welby) is a pretty good player, but defensively we shut him down,” said Walker. “Travis Woodham is also a very good defender. We will have him guard the other team’s top guards a lot of the time.”

Junior guard Daniel Sprankle scored a game-high 16 points for Bethany Christian. Senior Jono Gronow and Everett Cook both added eight points for the Bruins.

“We got a lot of guys some minutes. We played our bench a lot in the second half,” said Walker, whose team’s two losses were for a combined 10 points this season. “We have been playing well so far this season.”

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Category: Lake Orion Baptist, Lake Orion Shalom Baptist, Prep Wraps, Troy Bethany Christian, Troy Christian Leadership Acadamy