Rochester Hills Christian pulls past Troy Bethany to take FBAC lead

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

ROCHESTER HILLS — A year ago, Rochester Hills Christian had to defeat rival Troy Bethany Christian on the final game of the regular season to gain a share of the Fundamental Baptist Athletic Conference Red Division boys basketball title.

The Eagles were faced with a similar situation Thursday and they rose up to the challenge.

Rochester Hills Christian took over first place in the win column with a 44-40 FBAC-Red triumph, avenging its sole league loss in the process. The Eagles (10-5, 6-1) can clinch at least a tie Friday for the league crown with a road win over last-place Clarkston Springfield Christian (2-13, 0-6).

Troy Bethany and Rochester Hills Christian both finished 7-1 last season in league play to each gain a share of the title.

“We fought as hard as we could to win this game,” offered Rochester Hills Christian coach Join Bronsing, whose team lost to the Bruins 64-63 in overtime during the two team’s first meeting on Jan. 10.

“We know if we can win out this week, then we’ll have at least a piece of it again,” continued Bronsing. “Bethany still has to play a couple of more league games. That was our goal this season, to challenge for the league. But we’ve been through a lot. We’re a little banged up right now.”

The Eagles are still missing sophomore guard Aaron Berry, who has been sidelined indefinitely with a back injury. Senior guard Nathan Simon, the team’s leading scorer, has been hampered all week with flu-like symptoms and several other players are battling injuries or sickness.

Still, Simon, the team’s sole senior who came in averaging around 18 points a game,  hit a short-range jumper with 1:01 left to give his team a 42-40 lead. The Eagles held on down the stretch.

“We did a nice job coming back on them, but we just ran out of time,” admitted Troy Bethany Christian coach Jack Walker, the Bruins’ head coach since 1986. “We were down 38-28 with seven to go and then we went on the 12-2 run to tie it at 40-40. We just couldn’t get over the hump.”

Behind a superman-type effort by sophomore Marquez Hatcher, the Eagles led for virtually the whole game. Hatcher finished with a game-high 29 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Simon added six points, four rebounds and three assists for Rochester Hills.

Senior guard Daniel Sprankle scored 14 of his team-high 21 points in the second half to pace Bethany Christian (10-5, 5-1), which still has games left against third-place Lake Orion Baptist and fourth-place Clinton Township Faith Christian. Senior center Ajay Solomon chipped in with seven points, eight rebounds and seven blocked shots for the Bruins.

“We have to win out this time,” said Walker. “Last year they got us and their place and we ended up sharing the league crown. Now, we have to win our last couple of league games to have a shot.”

Rochester Hills Christian opened the game with an 11-3 run in the first five minutes and settled for a 15-13 edge at the end of the first quarter. The Eagles held a 22-19 lead at the half.

Behind a 12-7 edge in the third quarter, Rochester Hills opened up a 34-26 advantage heading into the fourth stanza, setting up a wild finish.

“Bethany is a good team and we knew they were capable of making a run at us,” said Bronsing. “Sprankle carried them in the second half. He caused all types of problems for us. We were fortunate enough to have a great game from Marquez. He saved us when the shots weren’t falling. In close games like this, you need some of your best players to step up and I think Marquez did just that for us.”

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