MACA basketball continues to grow

Photo courtesey of MACA Aaron Matthews defends the ballhandler as Joey Danek looks on

Mountain Area Christian Academy's basketball has added both a Junior Varsity boys' and girls' team this season. All four of the teams are doing well this season. The Boys'Varsity team is 4- 2 in GCAA conference games, and 9-2 in overall games. Both the girls' and boys' teams have important games this week as they play Jubilee and Dogwood, both contenders for state playoffs. If MACA defeats either of these teams, they will be headed for Macon, where the finals are held. The teams will have home court advantage as both are played here. The Varsity Girls' team is 3- 1 in conference play, and 6-2 in overall competition. The JV teams have defeated the majority of their opponents as well.

The Boys' Varsity include 2 seniors, - Jonathan Hemby and Steven Vecchio, 2 juniors - Phillip Kight and Joe Dibenedetto, 5 sophmores - Joey Danek, Aaron Matthews, Stewart Harbin, Patch DeFoor, and Coty Henson. This team, although young in years, has maturity on the court and have a good chance to go all the way to the state finals.

The Varsity Girls' include Jessica Dillars, the lone senior, Rebecca DeCarlo, a junior, Rebekah Simonds, Danielle Graham, and Stephanie Arrowood, sophomores, and Abby Powell, Korah McCray, Heather Dittman, Gabby Camp, freshmen. Two eighth graders also contribute to the varsity team - Terah Hooper and Kayla Bowers. The JV girls and boys are in grades six through eight. There are no tryouts of cuts presently at MACA, so anyone with the desire to learn can try out for the team. This year, both teams have been very successful; the future is bright for these young players as they continue to receive instruction and work hard.

In other sport news from MACA, the second season for Girls' Soccer will get underway in February. The soccer team has some outstanding players, including several middle school girls. The newest addition to the sports menu at Mountain Area Christian Academy will be Boys' Baseball. Candidates for a baseball coach are being interviewed presently. Other competitive sports offered at the school include Girls' Volleyball and Boys' Golf. For more information about the sports program at MACA, contact the school at 706-374-6222. Mr. Steve Shamblin is the Athletic Director.