Trojans ready for challenge of ACAA tournament
Published 10:14 pm Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Meadowview Christian’s Alan Stockman, right, leads a fast break in practice Monday as the Trojans prepare for the first round of the Alabama Christian Athletic Association tournament. The ACAA tournament starts Thursday in Oxford.–Daniel Evans
As far as Meadowview Christian basketball coach John Robert Morton knows, the Trojans have never won a basketball championship, regardless of association.
Meadowview can change history with three wins in the Alabama Christian Athletic Association state basketball tournament this weekend in Oxford, but the Trojans are taking it one game at a time.
Meadowview can qualify for the ACAA state semifinals with a win over Tabernacle Christian Thursday. Morton said he can’t remember the last time the basketball program qualified for a state semifinal.
“From what I understand it’s been a pretty long time,” Morton said. “I can’t remember one. I don’t think even the year that we had some of the guys that were so good [that we made it that far]. I think they got upset in the first round.”
Morton said this year has already been a success, especially for a program in its first year in the ACAA.
“There’s some teams in this league that are not as strong, but the strongest teams are unbelievably good at basketball,” Morton said. “To be able to come in in the first year and go ahead and put ourselves in that top tier of basketball teams, it would have to be a successful [year].”
It has already been a tremendous year for the Trojans, who went 6-0 in area play and won an ACAA area championship.
Morton said advancing any further would be a big accomplishment and help the program change expectations.
“I think it would mean a lot to the kids in general,” Morton said. “You’ve got to enjoy coming to school and sports is something that everybody can get behind. It’s something you watch and something you can grow with while you’re in high school.”
The Trojans face Tabernacle Christian Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Meadowview defeated Tabernacle in both meetings between the two schools this season.
Morton said the Trojans will have to handle facing one of the better shooters in the league against Tabernacle.
If Meadowview wins Thursday, the Trojans will move on to face the winner of Union Chapel and New Life Christian Friday at 6:15 p.m.
The championship game is set for Saturday at 1:45 p.m. All of the tournament games will be played at the Oxford Civic Center.
