By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

LAGRANGE – LaGrange Academy coach Britt Gaylor felt it was a productive couple of days, even if his team came up short in back-to-back games.

After falling to an unbeaten Griffin Christian team on Friday night, LaGrange Academy was back on its home court on Saturday to take on a Brookstone team that competes in the Georgia High School Association.

LaGrange Academy kept it close most of the way, but it was Brookstone pulling away late for a 58-39 victory.

“We had a tough time scoring (against Brookstone),” Gaylor said. “But that’s why we’re playing these tough non-region games, so we can figure out who can do what.”

When the Warriors return from their holiday break on Jan. 3, they’ll be playing mostly GISA Region 1-AA games the rest of the way.

The Warriors have played three region games so far, and they’ve won them all.

“I’m proud of where we are,” Gaylor said. “When we get back into region play, I’m excited to see what we’re going to do. We’ve had some really good stretches against some pretty good opponents. I think that’ll carry over into January. Things set up well. We’ve got a tough region, but I think we’ll do well.”

In Saturday’s game, Lincoln Anderson paced the Warriors with 20 points, and while no one else had more than five points, Case Dougherty, Riley Hess, and Matthew Morgan each made 3-pointers.

Brookstone had a 12-10 lead after the first quarter, and it was ahead 26-23 at the half.

Anderson, a senior post player, helped the Warriors stay in it by scoring 11 points in the first half, including seven points in the second period.

Brookstone began to extend its lead in the third period, and it was ahead by 11 points when Morgan knocked down a 3-pointer to get LaGrange Academy within eight, and it was a 40-32 heading to the final quarter.

Dougherty collected an offensive rebound and scored early in the fourth period to get LaGrange Academy within six, but Brookstone scored the next seven points to go up 47-34.

Anderson knocked down a 3-pointer with 5:18 left to get the Warriors within 10, but they were outscored 11-2 the rest of the way.

“We were competing. We were in it,” Gaylor said. “I thought we played really hard. I was pleased with that, especially playing back-to-back nights against two quality opponents.”

LaGrange Academy returns to action on Jan 3 for a road game against Solid Rock in Fayetteville.