Free Throws Lift Eagles

The gym at Grace Christian Academy (Kankakee) has always been a house of horrors for the FOFCA Screaming Eagles. Monday night it continued to be for the Lady Eagles.

The Lady Eagles started fast, jumping out to an early lead behind Destiny Villalejo's 8 first quarter points. The Crusaders rallied in the 2nd quarter to lead 25-18 at the half.

Powered by Villalejo's 7 third quarter points the Eagles rallied to within three at the end of the quarter, 39-36. The Eagles struggled in the fourth quarter, going 2 of 17 from the field and eventually falling 53-43 to Grace.

Villalejo led the way with 19 points, Natalie Robertson dropped in 8 and Sarah Ayers 5.

Both teams started hot in the boys game. The Eagles shot 50% from the field in the first quarter, including 7 of 9 from inside the arc, but still trailed a hot shooting Crusader team 20-18 at the end of 1.

The Eagles kept scoring in the second quarter thanks to 6 of 11 shooting from the field including 2 of 2 from the 3-point line to take a 34-27 halftime lead.

Coming out in the second half the teams traded points in the third quarter. The hot shooting fell off for the Eagles, but they hit 5 of 7 free throws in the third quarter to hang onto a 49-43 lead at the end of three.

But the Crusaders would not go away. Grace put on a furious fourth quarter rally, aided by mental mistakes from the Eagles to tie the game inside the final minute. Brandon Cline went 4 for 4 at the line in the closing seconds to lift the Eagles to an exciting 61-58 win.

The win helped the Eagles was the first for the Eagles in South Shore Christian Conference play and helped them keep pace with West Division leader Kankakee Trinity.

The Eagles next play on Tuesday in Valparaiso, IN against Victory Christian Academy.