Eagles avenge loss to Spartans

By Jeff Cochran

jeff.cochran@onlineathens.com

Before most games, Athens Christian coach Ron Link is a bundle of nerves wrapped in a purple shirt.

On Saturday night, Link felt fine before his team's game against Athens Academy and even better after the Eagles beat the Spartans buzzer-to-buzzer in the Spartan Center, 57-34.

"I felt totally at ease before this game" Link said, "and I don't know why."

Link's comfort is most puzzling because the Spartans are one of three teams to beat the Eagles this season. Athens Academy won the first game between these two teams this season, beating the Eagles 52-49 on Jan. 15 at Athens Christian .

The coach said his preparation for this game had nothing to do with revenge, but his players took at least a little satisfaction in knocking off a team that had already beaten them.

"When they beat us at our place, they were jumping up and down on the 'AC' in the middle of the court," sophomore forward Zach Lillie said. "That just fired us up for this game."

Lillie led all scorers with 14 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks. The 6-foot-7 forward was a big part of the Eagles' stellar defensive start to the game.

The Eagles kept Athens Academy scoreless for the first 11 minutes, 17 seconds of the game, shutting the Spartans out in the first quarter. Athens Academy was 0-for-6 from the free-throw line in the span.

Athens Academy 's P.J. Blaesing broke the drought by hitting his second of two free throws with 4:43 left in the first half.

Athens Christian (15-7, 11-3 Region 8-A) did not give up a point from the field until there was 2:38 left in the second quarter when Bryant Shirreffs drove for a layup. That put the score at 26-3 in favor of the Eagles.

The Spartans have been held under 40 points just twice this season before Saturday.

"We knew it was intimidating to them," Lillie said of the defensive performance. "Our guards were shutting down the shooter and me and Chaz (Sheats) locked down the inside. (The shutout) made us play harder."

The Eagles finished with four players in double digits. Sheats finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Peyton Mapp, who was filling in at point guard for injured ANTHONY COSBY, added 12 points and Sam Floyd scored 10 points.

Athens Academy (10-12, 8-6) had no players score in double digits. Mark Sanders scored nine points and Davis Finney added eight points, all of which came in the third quarter.

"We are combining defenses," said Link, who refrained from getting too specific. "People are confused with what we are doing. Sometimes we are confused, too. I like to do things different come region tournament time."

Once the Spartans were able to get on the scoreboard, they started to show signs of life. Led by Finney, Athens Academy outscored Athens Christian 16-11 in the third quarter and closed a 20-point gap to one as small as 13 points.

The Eagles scored 17 fourth-quarter points, going 9-for-14 from the free-throw line in the final eight minutes, to close out the Spartans.

Both teams have two region games left before the start of the region tournament. The Spartans will likely take either the fourth or fifth seed into the tournament, while the Eagles can finish no lower than third with the possibility of finishing first.

"We've got to do our part," Link said. "I don't like counting on other (teams), but we have to hope for other things to happen."