Injuries can't hold back boys, girls of Augusta Christian

Injuries have plagued the boys and girls teams at Augusta Christian Schools in the first half of the basketball season. That didn't stop either team from taking a two-game sweep this past weekend with home wins Friday over Briarwood and at Augusta Preparatory School on Saturday.

Friday's girls game set the tone for the weekend as the Lady Lions captured a 47-34 win over Briarwood.

Augusta Christian, still without injured seniors Sarah-Beth McKinney and Ashley Troxel, played nine Lady Lions, but only four scored. Leading the charge was McKinney's replacement, Whitney Waters. The junior tallied 12 points in the win.

Waters chipped in another 22 points in Augusta Christian's 82-43 win over Augusta Prep on Saturday.

"She's improved," Augusta Christian girls coach Keith Walton said. "If she can keep giving us what she's giving us and then we can get Sarah-Beth back on top of that, we're going to be tough to beat."

The Lady Lions (7-1) will get their test this week. Walton said McKinney will be back in the lineup for the SeaHawk Holiday Classic in Hilton Head, S.C.

The tournament, a three-day event starting today, features several South Carolina public school teams and two from as far away as Kentucky.

"That will be some of the toughest competition we'll see," Walton said.

With the Augusta Christian boys also facing stiff competition at the tournament in Hilton Head, this past weekend allowed point guard Tyler Bourdo to earn some much-needed game experience.

Bourdo was bumped up to the starting lineup after regular starter Kyle Redd aggravated a shoulder injury last week.

"Tyler's a good ball player," Griffin said. "Our guard depth has been shortened, though."

Bourdo tallied a combined 15 points in the Lions' two wins this weekend. Augusta Christian's Josh Whitaker led the team with 16 points in Friday's 68-41 win over Briarwood, while Wayne House scored 15 points in Saturday's 57-46 win at Augusta Prep.

Griffin said he hopes to have Redd back in the starting lineup for this week's games. Redd has made the comeback once already this season after initially injuring the shoulder playing football. When he plays in the tournament at Hilton Head, Redd will wear a protective brace on his shoulder.

"We only have eight healthy on varsity right now," Griffin said. "We're going to see some tough competition in Hilton Head."

The boys and girls teams will begin the tournament today against Hilton Head High School.