Doubleheader sweep caps exciting 9-3 FCA girls basketball season

Faith Christian Academy concluded its 19th and potentially final girls basketball season in style on Wednesday. Playing seven players in both games, the Falcons swept a doubleheader at Rotolo, winning the eighth-grade game 20-6 and the seventh-grade game 21-4. The victories gave FCA a final season record of 9 wins and 3 losses, Faith's ninth consecutive winning girls hoops season. Congratulations to the Falcons!

With two FCA players unavailable Wednesday due to illness, Faith relied on seven players in the twinbill, but the girls' conditioning was fine since they're used to playing a full-court, fast-paced style in games and practices. The Falcons' trademark pressure defense and fun fast-break offense quickly befuddled Rotolo in the eighth-grade game as FCA built a 12-1 first-half lead behind six points and five steals by Lauren "Condor" Caprini and four points and three rebounds by Anneliese "Lock" Lockner.

Lauren finished with six steals and Anneliese five to pace Faith, and Anneliese added 11 rebounds and a second-half basket for six total points to earn the hustle award with Lauren. Samantha "Samurai" Nosewicz added four points and four rebounds for the best attitude award. Nicki "Night Time" Smith chipped in with three assists to set up teammates for baskets.

In the seventh-grade game, Faith carved out a 10-2 first-half lead en route to the win. Lauren led FCA's stifling defense with seven steals in less than half the game and added four points. Anneliese paced Faith with eight points and three steals, and Samantha added four points, six steals and five rebounds to share the hustle award with Lauren. Mackenzie VanDerSnick contributed three points, two steals and two rebounds, and Grace "Hammer" Hansen turned in her most aggressive defensive performance of the season with four steals to earn the best attitude award. Jessica "Sky" Smith added three steals, two assists and two points.

Congratulations to the Falcons on a tremendous season! The girls played terrific team defense, unselfish team offense and a scrappy, intense full-court style that was a joy to watch and accurately reflected the Falcons' "Unite" season theme based on Romans 15:5-6: May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As Coach Smith told the team after its final game, the Falcons grew into a united team that played with one mind, one purpose and one voice on the court in spite of a condensed season in which the girls practiced only once, twice or sometimes no practices a week while opponents practiced and played 4 or 5 times a week. If this ends up being Faith's last girls basketball season, this year's team made sure the program went out on a highly positive and upbeat note!

Members of the Falcons' squad were Lauren, Anneliese, Jessica, Samantha, Nicki, Mackenzie, Grace, Becca Smuk and Brooke Hermes. FCA girls basketball now owns a 19-year record of 255 wins and 156 losses.