The Griffin Christian Crusaders boys basketball team rebounded from its first loss of 2013 to defeat the LaGrange Academy Warriors 65-54 Thursday night in GISA Region 4-AA action at home.

The Crusaders, just like the Lady Crusaders did in the early game, wore their red jerseys Thursday for the team’s annual “Red Out” game. Many GC fans also wore red that night.

The first-place Crusaders (18-7 overall, 8-1 region) did a decent job of erasing the memory of their 63-42 blowout loss at non-region foe Dominion Christian Tuesday night. If it wasn’t for the Crusaders’ missed shots in the first quarter, they probably would’ve run right past fifth-place LaGrange Academy, which fell to 9-10, 3-6.

That wasn’t the case for the Crusaders. The Warriors were a scrappy bunch — every time GC would get a sizable lead, LaGrange would chip away at it and before you know it, the Warriors were right back in the game.

Aaron McCray got GC started with a 3-0 first-quarter lead, but the Crusaders missed 13 shots in the period (including 6 three-pointers) and only led 17-10 heading to the second quarter. LaGrange’s Chase Wardlaw took over in the second, scoring 11 points in the period to give the Warriors a decent lead in the game. GC roared back to tie the game at 24-all with 2:18 remaining until halftime, but LaGrange outscored the Crusaders 7-4 to take a 31-28 lead at the half.

GC guard Wil Savage sank a 35-foot, 3-point shot at the halftime buzzer to tie the game at 31, but the referees decided the shot came after the buzzer sounded and therefore was no good, causing a mild ruckus from the home crowd.

GC shook off the disappointment of the Savage play to blitz the Warriors in the third quarter. Crusaders guard Jonathan Hammond sank three treys and McCray sank another one and GC was soon up by as many as 12 points halfway through the period. But the scrappy Warriors worked their way back in the game, thanks in part from a trey from Will Trotter, to cut the GC lead to 48-43 heading to the fourth quarter.

In the final stanza, another Hammond trey put GC up 57-49 with 3:50 remaining. LaGrange then went on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 57-54 with 1:30 left, but that was the last points for the Warriors. McCray sank two straight baskets and made a nice pass to a cutting Hammond for a layup and the 63-54 lead, putting the game away with less than 50 seconds remaining. Savage swished two free throws for the final 65-54 margin, allowing the Crusaders to sweep the season series.

McCray led GC with 25 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Savage and Hammond added 14 points each. Savage snagged 10 rebounds and dished out 5 assists while Hammond added 3 steals to his stat sheet. Wardlaw led LaGrange with 20 points and Mo Oshinowo chipped in 15 for the Warriors.

The Crusaders traveled to play region foe Flint River Friday night. They end the regular season at sixth-place Piedmont Academy on Tuesday and at home against winless Harvester Christian next Friday. Both contests will start at 7:30 p.m.

GRIFFIN CHRISTIAN BOYS

Date |Opponent |Time/Score

11/13 |WEBER |W 57-43

11/26 |Grace |L 96-76

11/29 |Weber |L 52-35

11/30 |TRINITY |W 78-54

12/3 |Solid Rock |W 61-43

12/4 |Westfield |W 62-49

12/7 |Mount de Sales |L 53-52 2OT

12/8 |DOMINION |L 66-55

12/11 |FURTAH* |W 77-75 OT

12/13 |GRACE |W 65-61

12/14 |DAWSON ST |W 71-46

12/18 |Arlington* |L 83-70

12/28 |vs. Heritage |L 92-86

12/29 |vs. Trinity |W 90-65

1/4 |LaGrange* |W 69-57

1/8 |WESTFIELD |W 70-57

1/11 |FLINT RIVER* |W 82-49

1/12 |MOUNT de SALES |W 65-44

1/14 |PIEDMONT* |W 65-26

1/18 |Harvester* |W 59-21

1/22 |Furtah* |W 82-64

1/25 |ARLINGTON* |W 76-71

1/28 |SOLID ROCK |W 84-35

1/29 |Dominion |L 63-42

1/31 |LaGRANGE* |W 65-54

2/1 |Flint River* |late

2/5 |Piedmont* |7:30

2/8 |HARVESTER* |7:30

HOME GAMES IN CAPS