Warriors claim 2 hoop wins
Ruskin Christian School Homecoming week ends on high note
By STEVE JACKSON
RUSKIN — A full, busy and fun week for Ruskin Christian School Homecoming Spirit Week was capped off Saturday Night with a festival at the school.
The previous night, the Warriors basketball varsity won an exciting game 54-50 over Christian Academy of Apopka, their second victory of the week after beating division foe Central Baptist 60-49 Tuesday to maintain their grip on second place in the West Division of the Christian League.
In addition to the boys’ varsity basketball victories, the varsity girls lost to Central 45-19 and lost to Christian Academy girls 52-39. The JV boys also captured an easy win over New Path Academy 51-17.
The big week launched with Fairy Tale Day on Tuesday with students dressing as characters from all sorts of stories. On Wednesday the dress-up fun continued with students decked out as characters from TV shows, movies and books. On Thursday each class donned costumes again for Class Theme Day ranging from sports to cartoons. Friday was Blue & Gold Day with the crowning of the new Homecoming King and Queen Dylan Northrup and Elaina Chavez. Their Homecoming Court as represented by different grades: 7th Grade — Luna De Los Angeles Laureano-Leon and Ryan Hampton; 8th Grade — Sophia McDaniel and Alex Rodriguez; 9th Grade — Klarissa Solis and Sam Tuch; 10th Grade — Sheena Freed and Gino Titus; 11th Grade — Hannah Tyler and Anthony Jacobs; 12th Grade — Elaina Chavez and Levi Wynn, Emily Heath and Noah Narvaez, Elisheva Marvin and Dylan Northrop, Eve Marvin and Noah Statham, Yareliz Munoz and Stephen Pain.
The Saturday night festival brought out over 125 people with many families from the entire school attending and enjoying a bounce house, kick ball games, face painting, food, outside movies and a marshmallow roast.
Everybody was still hyped up from the Friday night come-from-behind and payback win over division leader Christian Academy. The Warriors opened erratic on offense and looked like a defensive sieve at the other end throughout the first half, trailing 26-17 at intermission.
Warriors Coach Micah Bonner and his assistant Paul Northrop adjusted in the locker room and dropped the unsuccessful man-to-man defense. Ruskin Christian School was a new team in the second half with a zone defense. The Warriors roared back in the third quarter behind Caleb Statham’s 11 points to take a 3-point lead into the fourth quarter. Ruskin Christian School held on, sparked by Anthony Jacobs’ play in the paint and 8 fourth quarter points for the night. The Warriors were led by Statham’s 18 points and Jacobs’ 16 points. Jesse Mobley contributed 12 points, including a crucial stepback 3 to halt an Eagle late run and send a large homecoming crowd home happy.