SEACOAST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY BREEZES PAST STANTON

FABRIZIO GOWDY | DECEMBER 8, 2020 | SPORTS

The Stanton Blue Devils boys basketball team was soundly defeated 67-34 at home Monday night by the Seacoast Christian Academy Eagles.

The Blue Devils, who came in averaging just 5.8 first quarter points, recorded another dismal start. A Thomas McLaughlin layup early in the first quarter gave Stanton a 2-1 lead, but from there it was all Seacoast, with the Eagles ending the quarter on a 14-0 run. The Blue Devils had more shots blocked than made field goals, and trailed 15-2 going into the second.

The Eagles' high-powered offense, which entered the night shooting 39 percent from the floor and averaging 66.4 points per game, continued to extend their lead in the second quarter. Seacoast shot well from beyond the arc, hitting six first half threes. An 11-0 Seacoast run to end the half put the Eagles up 34-8 at the break, leaving little hope for a second half Stanton comeback.

The Stanton offense fared better in the third, putting up 12 points in the quarter, but its leading scorer had an off night. Senior guard Ro Vemuri, who leads the Blue Devils in threes and points per game, was held to just four points and not a single three. 

The Stanton defense continued to struggle to contain the explosive Seacoast offense in the second half. The barrage of Eagle threes maintained the Seacoast lead, which stood at 34 points by the end of the third and 33 at the end of the fourth. In contrast to Seacoast’s nine threes, Stanton’s lone three came courtesy of senior Jaron Dains in the third quarter.

The 5-1 Eagles’ next game is at home Thursday against Cedar Creek Christian. Stanton falls to 0-5 and looks ahead to its own Thursday game at River City Science Academy, a team the Blue Devils defeated 79-65 at home last year.