Faith Christian Academy wins Ohio Christian State title
The Hiland Hawks weren’t the only State basketball champions to emerge from winter this season. In a wild dash to the finish, Faith Christian Academy (FCA) captured the Ohio Christian Athletic Association State Championship to earn the school’s first-ever State basketball title.
Led by head coach Mike Miller, a Garaway High School graduate, the Blazers got off on the best foot possible with a 91-49 beat-down of Berean Christian Academy Nov. 19, then rode a wave of success all the way to the State finals at Lake Center in Hartville, where they knocked off Dayton Temple Christian 75-70 in the State semifinal, before nursing a close lead throughout in the finals to an eventual 61-52 win over Mansfield Temple Christian.
The tournament marks the inaugural Ohio Christian School Athletic Association (OCSAA) boys state basketball championship, and by finishing the season with a record of 24-4, the Blazers put their mark on the title and set the bar for future teams.
In the semifinal, FCA overcame a spirited effort against Dayton Temple Christian, in which the game came down to the final moments. Facing a quick, athletic group, the Blazers simply wore down their opponents and proved to be too physical down the stretch.
“These kids really went out there and put their name on this championship,” said FCA administrator Steve Yoder. “We’re a very well conditioned team, and it showed, especially in that semifinal game. With Mike at the head of the program, and with all of the kids coming from the local community, there was a really strong Hiland and Garaway influence on the program, and that is a pretty good work ethic when it comes to basketball. Plus, the kids really liked to load up and fire from long range. We had two players who shot lights out from the 3-point arc.”
With six of the seven players back for next season, with Reagan Ropp being the lone senior, plus any newcomers that might be on the horizon, the Blazers have every reason to be optimistic about their chances of repeating.
Yoder said that while the athleticism is there with the team, the real driving force has been their desire to work at their trade. He said that the players are all willing to do whatever is necessary to make themselves better as a team, and because they all have their sights set on doing what is best for everyone, there is little drama on or off the court.
But what really makes Yoder proud of the team is the comments he has received from state officials wherever the Blazers have played.
“I have had so many officials who have done our games tell me that they would definitely be back to officiate, and that it was an honor to officiate games and that they had a great experience,” said Yoder. “When you hear officials say things like that it says a lot about your kids. And we had so many compliments wherever we traveled this year. That is just as important to us as anything.”
As the Ohio Christian Athletic Association continues to grow, the competition should get even tougher, but Yoder said that the team’s work ethic will keep them competitive down the road.
The Blazers were led by high-scoring Danny Schrock, who poured in 21.0 points per game, to go with 6.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.7 steals per contest. He was backed up by Eric Schrock, who averaged 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Ropp added 8.0 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per contest, Austin Schrock scored 13.1 points and added 6.0 rebounds per game, Eric Troyer recorded 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game, and Trevor Gingerich added 5.8 points per game while Anthony Troyer pitched in with 2.7 points per game.
Late in the regular season FCA took on Kidron Central Christian in a big game, and knocked off the Comets 70-56, with Danny Schrock scoring 24 points and Eric Schrock scoring 23 points to go with six rebounds.
Led by head coach Mike Miller, a Garaway High School graduate, the Blazers got off on the best foot possible with a 91-49 beat-down of Berean Christian Academy Nov. 19, then rode a wave of success all the way to the State finals at Lake Center in Hartville, where they knocked off Dayton Temple Christian 75-70 in the State semifinal, before nursing a close lead throughout in the finals to an eventual 61-52 win over Mansfield Temple Christian.
The tournament marks the inaugural Ohio Christian School Athletic Association (OCSAA) boys state basketball championship, and by finishing the season with a record of 24-4, the Blazers put their mark on the title and set the bar for future teams.
In the semifinal, FCA overcame a spirited effort against Dayton Temple Christian, in which the game came down to the final moments. Facing a quick, athletic group, the Blazers simply wore down their opponents and proved to be too physical down the stretch.
“These kids really went out there and put their name on this championship,” said FCA administrator Steve Yoder. “We’re a very well conditioned team, and it showed, especially in that semifinal game. With Mike at the head of the program, and with all of the kids coming from the local community, there was a really strong Hiland and Garaway influence on the program, and that is a pretty good work ethic when it comes to basketball. Plus, the kids really liked to load up and fire from long range. We had two players who shot lights out from the 3-point arc.”
With six of the seven players back for next season, with Reagan Ropp being the lone senior, plus any newcomers that might be on the horizon, the Blazers have every reason to be optimistic about their chances of repeating.
Yoder said that while the athleticism is there with the team, the real driving force has been their desire to work at their trade. He said that the players are all willing to do whatever is necessary to make themselves better as a team, and because they all have their sights set on doing what is best for everyone, there is little drama on or off the court.
But what really makes Yoder proud of the team is the comments he has received from state officials wherever the Blazers have played.
“I have had so many officials who have done our games tell me that they would definitely be back to officiate, and that it was an honor to officiate games and that they had a great experience,” said Yoder. “When you hear officials say things like that it says a lot about your kids. And we had so many compliments wherever we traveled this year. That is just as important to us as anything.”
As the Ohio Christian Athletic Association continues to grow, the competition should get even tougher, but Yoder said that the team’s work ethic will keep them competitive down the road.
The Blazers were led by high-scoring Danny Schrock, who poured in 21.0 points per game, to go with 6.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.7 steals per contest. He was backed up by Eric Schrock, who averaged 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Ropp added 8.0 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per contest, Austin Schrock scored 13.1 points and added 6.0 rebounds per game, Eric Troyer recorded 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game, and Trevor Gingerich added 5.8 points per game while Anthony Troyer pitched in with 2.7 points per game.
Late in the regular season FCA took on Kidron Central Christian in a big game, and knocked off the Comets 70-56, with Danny Schrock scoring 24 points and Eric Schrock scoring 23 points to go with six rebounds.
Published: April 4, 2011
