Bethel Christian Academy Edges Bear Grass Charter in Thrilling Victory
KINSTON, NC— The Bethel Christian Academy Trojans hosted the Bear Grass Charter Bears on Tuesday night, pulling off a thrilling 51-49 victory in their second meeting of the season. The Trojans avenged a 53-34 road loss from two weeks ago with a gritty performance that showed their willingness to embrace a new identity under head coach Ashley Stroud.
“We challenged the guys to a new identity, and that’s what came out tonight,” Stroud said after the win.
The Trojans jumped out to an early 9-3 lead in the first quarter before the Bears responded with a 10-0 run to close the frame. Bethel Christian regained momentum with a 7-0 run to open the second quarter, eventually heading into halftime knotted at 23-23.
The third quarter saw both teams trading baskets and free throws, with the Trojans clinging to a 34-33 lead entering the final period. In a back-and-forth fourth quarter, the Bears surged ahead 47-42 with under three minutes remaining, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
Senior standouts Cooper Williams and Jason Turnage led the way for the Trojans, scoring 15 points each. Turnage hit a pivotal three-pointer late in the game, while Williams delivered in the clutch, scoring the team’s final four points. Williams tied the game with a layup in the final 30 seconds, and the Trojans’ defense forced a key turnover to give them the last possession.
With less than five seconds on the clock, Williams drove to the basket and was fouled, calmly sinking both free throws to give Bethel Christian the lead. The Bears called a timeout to set up a final play, but the Trojans’ defense again held firm, forcing a half-court heave that narrowly missed.
“It was a much-needed win. It’s a big momentum change,” Williams said.
Bear Grass was led by Nate Gurganus, who paced the Bears with a strong offensive showing. The win moves the Trojans to 2-3 on the season, setting up a highly anticipated matchup against local rival Arendell Parrott Academy on Friday night.
The Trojans are 1-10 all-time against the Patriots and have lost the last 10 meetings. Despite the daunting history, Coach Stroud remains optimistic.
“I think it’s going to be a fun environment. It’s good it’s a Friday night. I think it’s going to be a big crowd,” Stroud said. “I hope we come out and perform well. It should be a great game and a good atmosphere.”
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