Lions score overtime victory

In a school full of multisport athletes, the Augusta Christian Schools Lions can sometimes earn revenge in different sports.

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That's what happened Friday when the Augusta Christian boys basketball team faced the Hammond SkyHawks.

The Lions fell to Hammond in the South Carolina Independent Schools Association football state championship game in November. Nine weeks later, the Lions got revenge when they knocked off SCISA No. 5 Hammond, 58-57, in overtime.

Junior Tyler Bourdo, the Lions' starting quarterback, played the role of hero on the hardwood. Bourdo grabbed a defensive rebound as the Lions trailed by one point with 34 seconds left in overtime. The guard dribbled the length of the court and scored on a left-handed lay-up to give Augusta Christian a 58-57 lead with 29 seconds left. The one-point advantage held, and the Lions grabbed a key Region I-AAA victory.

"I think this is a statement game," Augusta Christian boys basketball coach Marty Griffin said. "After this game we may have a harder time flying under the radar."

The Lions came into the game unranked. Thanks to Bourdo's late-game work and a 25-point performance from forward Fred Auston, Augusta Christian improved to 2-1 in region play.

The team also earned a bit of SCISA recognition.

"They're definitely a top 10 team," Hammond boys basketball coach Jimmy Braddock said of the Lions. "I think our region is the strongest in the state."

The Augusta Christian girls also climbed up the Region I-AAA ladder with a close win of their own. Despite 23 points from Hammond's Ali Hymson, Augusta Christian held on for a 55-52 home victory.

The Lady Lions trailed 35-34 with two minutes left in the third quarter, but Augusta Christian freshman Elizabeth Alewine scored 14 points in the game's final nine minutes to earn the win. Alewine finished with a team-high 17 points while senior Casey Brush added 12 points and 19 rebounds.

"They didn't do anything we didn't expect them to do. They just beat us on the boards," Hammond girls basketball coach Charles McAlister said. "We're getting better. Hopefully, we can give them a better game when they come to our place."

The Lady Lions improved to 12-6 overall and boast a 3-0 region record.