On their home court, Tuesday night, the Santa Rosa Christian Eagles varsity boys basketball team soundly defeated the Immanuel Christian Warriors 64 to 36. SRCA Athletic Director and Coach, Steven Peoples said he’s aiming to repeat last year’s regional championship and beyond. If they continue to build on a now 12 and 1 record, they could do just that, he said.
The Eagles exploded early in the game, taking a lead they would never lose. As Coach Peoples said, Senior Point Guard #14 Bryan Brainard and Junior Shooting Guard #33 James Adams were a “one-two punch.” The two traded the ball often with Adams sinking twos 12 of his 24 attempts. Brainard put only two two-pointers on the books, but he also added the only threes by the Eagles, a pair of them.
While Adams led in points, Brainard led in assists with 10. Jon Brainard #25 led the fight in the paint with 5 of 9 twos and 8 rebounds.
The Brainard brothers took care of the free throw shooting, Bryan making 5 of 6 and Jon, 5 of 8.
Coach Peoples praised his team’s aggressive defense. Two leaders bringing the ball back were #20 Michael Whitney and #3 Taylor Cook, who took 14 and 15 rebounds, mostly defensive.
Overall, the Eagles defense held the Warriors to taking a lot of difficult shots on the away side.
The Warriors started to close the gap after half time and the Eagles’ frustration was evident.
Peoples’ said, “I push them to be the best. (They) began the third period a little sloppy and they came back. Their drive to be the best is why they were frustrated and why they came back. They pick each other up.”
Coach Peoples made a point to shake every Warrior’s hand as he entered the court then prayed over the game after the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem.
Even after the game, both teams prayed together. Peoples said Christ comes first at the Santa Rosa Christian games. The prayer, he said, “reminds everybody who brought us.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Boys basketball: Santa Rosa Christian defeats Immanuel Christian 64 to 36