Bulldogs win three straight to end season, boost power ranking

When ACHS freshman guard Kaleb Winchester wants set the pace for the game, know that it’s going to be fast and hot. In the team’s 65-57 win over Ascension Christian last Tuesday, Winchester started the game blazing and lighting up the shot charts scoring 13 of the teams’ 28 first quarter points.

“I was just trying to set the pace so we could get out there fast and we weren’t going to just let them come and beat us in our house,” Winchester said. “We needed a win and that was a good win.”

The scoring pace slowed down for both Winchester and the Bulldogs over the next three quarters of the game, but the team never let the Lions command the game. Whether it was Winchester or junior forward Gilbert Allen, ACHS had its way with Ascension Christian.

Winchester finished the game with a team-high 17 points, while Allen added another 12 to the scoreboard.

“I was just trying to get my teammates involved,” Allen said about his overall performance. “We didn’t really play a big team tonight, so I can get all my teammates involved so we could have fun.”

While Allen was making sure his teammates was having fun, Winchester was in his own zone – being aggressive. His aggressiveness and fast pace cost him though. With two minutes remaining in the game, Winchester fouled out just when the Lions were trying to make another run to make the comeback win.

“I wondered if I let my team down or if they could still do it without me,” Winchester about fouling out. “I was praying to God that we would win. I didn’t know how they would do without me on the court because I never had a situation like that.”

With help from sophomore guard Patrick Butler and forward Deandre Francis, the Bulldogs were able to close out the win. Francis played big in the paint, while Butler knocked down clutch shots down the stretch.

“We just kept pushing and working hard so that we were able to get a victory like we did,” Allen said.

The team played its last game of the season Monday night against Grand Isle in hopes to boost its power ranking and make the playoffs. With a 40-38 win, the team finds out today (Feb.14) if that win was enough to continue its season.

Allen added, “We might be getting in the playoffs and if we do we need a lot of support.”