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Off to a running start: Faster CCA teams enjoying early success

By Stephen Dawkins (Contact) | Clanton Advertiser

Published Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Chilton Christian Academy’s boys and girls basketball teams are on the fast track to success this season.

Both sets of Patriots hope to use newfound speed to their advantage, and they have done just that so far.

The boys team is off to a 3-0 start, including claiming the championship at the Brooklane (Hueytown) Tournament on Oct. 30-31.

Photo by Stephen Dawkins

Outstretched arm: Chilton Christian Academy’s Jessica Davis tries to corral a loose ball while the bench looks on during a 53-23 win over Cahawba Christian Academy.

The Patriots defeated Cahawba Christian, 56-37, Tuesday in their first home game and again relied on a speed advantage.

“We’re a lot faster than we have been in the past,” coach Chris Jones said and added that he likes the up-tempo game as long as it doesn’t lead to sloppy play. “I don’t want 25 steals and 19 turnovers.”

The biggest cause of CCA’s frenzied pace is junior point guard Austin Shropshire, who had 29 steals in two games in the tournament, which led to a 68-41 win over the same Cahawba team and a 71-39 win over host Brooklane in the championship game.

Shropshire, who played for CCA in 2007-08 but did not attend the school last season, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Tim Harris and Tyler Gray were also named to the all-tournament team. Harris had 42 points in two games, and Gray had 31 points.

On Tuesday, Gray led CCA scorers with 18 points, and Harris added 12 points.

The CCA girls, meanwhile, are 2-1 after Tuesday’s 53-23 win over Cahawba.

They lost to Hope Christian, 30-26, but defeated Cahawba, 52-25, in the Brooklane Tournament.

Summer Hall, the team’s lone senior, was named to the all-tournament team. She scored 18 points against Cahawba in the tournament and accounted for 17 points Tuesday.

Jessica Standifer chipped in 13 points.

Coach Todd Stephens said his team is in better shape than last season, when it posted a 12-12 record, and has more depth, which allows the Patriots to run the floor more effectively.

Eleven Patriots dress out this season compared to nine last season.

Stephens said a visit to Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. for a team camp is probably the biggest reason for improvement.

“They’ve worked all offseason,” Stephens said. “It has made a huge difference.”

CCA’s junior high team is 3-0 after winning only two games all last season.

Blake Dodson, who was the Most Valuable Player, Landon Hall and Parker White were all named to the all-tournament team at Brookland.

Matthew Allen led the way in Tuesday’s 38-27 win over Cahawba with 10 points, and Thompson Fuller had eight points.

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