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By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

Chilton Christian Academy’s varsity boy’s basketball team kept their quest for a top two seed in the Alabama Christian Athletic Association state tournament alive with a 60-41 win over Victory Christian Academy from Columbus, Mississippi on Jan. 24.

The Patriots used a stellar first-half performance and Cayman Hamilton’s 28 points to earn their fifth consecutive win.

“It was another game that has represented the trend we have been on the last few weeks now,” CCA coach Shanon Hamilton said.

CCA built a 16-6 lead after the first quarter over Victory Christian and then turned up the defensive pressure in the second quarter. The Patriots allowed just three points in the second quarter and held a comfortable 32-9 lead at the halftime break.

CCA played a hybrid-style defense with zone on the blocks down low, and man-to-man defense on the guards up on the top of the key. Donovin Norcross guarded Victory Christian’s best player and held him to seven points.

“It really put them in bind and allowed us to put some pressure on their best scorer,” Shanon Hamilton said. “It makes us depend on Donovin to lock down their best guard; he did a tremendous job (against Victory Christian).”

Cayman Hamilton added 15 rebounds, five assists and four steals to his 28 points. Norcross posted 12 points, three assists and a pair of steals and blocks. Norcross’ play in the postseason will be crucial for the Patriots state title aspirations.

“He is that glue guy for the team and is a leader, he holds everyone together and the person you can depend on night in and night out,” Shanon Hamilton said. “He is going to give you 10-12 points and fill up the other stat lines … He allows everyone else to be more efficient.”

Victory Christian was able to outscore CCA 20-16 in the third quarter to try to mount a comeback bid. However, CCA maintained the lead steady at 19 throughout the fourth quarter and cruised to their 13th win of the season.

T.J. Lyons had nine points and Connor Bice had six points and four rebounds for the Patriots. Mason McCary was a force on the boards grabbing 13 rebounds and adding four steals to his totals.

“At this point in the year, the next game is the biggest game,” Shanon Hamilton said. “We are in a position where we are playing our best basketball right now, and I am willing to line up and play anyone.”

CCA hosts Tuscaloosa Christian Academy, currently second in the ACCA Division 2A Region B South standings, on Jan. 26 in a pivotal matchup for playoff seeding. The Patriots quest for the two seed can take a major boost with a win over Tuscaloosa Christian.

If CCA wins their final three regular season games, they will force a three-way tie for the two seed and first-round bye in the state playoffs. A coin flip decides the two seed, and the other two teams play a tiebreaker game for the three and four seeds.

CCA lost the first matchup against Tuscaloosa Christian 56-48 on Nov. 15.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m on Jan. 26.