By matt sigler

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Columbia Academy’s LJ Coleman nearly beat the Adams County Christian School Rebels himself with a game-high 26 points.

The Cougars were able to hold the Rebels at bay all night, cruising to a 64-30 win Saturday.

“I told them what was coming,” ACCS head coach Richy Spears said. “I don’t think they knew what was coming, but I did. I knew it was going to be an up-tempo game with pressing and running the floor.”

The Rebels were able to hang in the game early, but quickly found themselves in a hole midway through the first quarter.

The Cougars would go on to outscore the Rebels 45-17 in the first half.

ACCS struggled on the boards as Columbia Academy had offensive rebound after offensive rebound, sending Spears into a frenzy on the sideline.

“They just wanted it more,” Spears said. “They outhustled us, they got offensive rebounds and wanted it more than we did all over the floor.”

The Rebels’ best quarter came in the third where they posted 11 points.

Senior Devin Spear was the leading scorer for ACCS with 14 points, and Andrew Ratcliff chipped in with seven. However, only five ACCS players were able to find the bottom of the basket.

Spears said he hopes his team will take the game as a learning experience, especially with tougher tests awaiting.

“I hope so, because when we go to Columbia, it is going to be a lot worse than that,” he said.