Life Way Christian Starts Strong
Posted: November 30, 2009 at 4:27 a.m.
BENTONVILLE — Young teams haven’t stopped Life Way Christian Schools from being competitive in the newly formed Arkansas Association of Christian Schools basketball league.
Life Way, located in Centerton, opened nine years ago and is in its second season of competitive basketball. The boys and girls high school teams have jumped to 4-0 records in the Central District.
The Warriors (7-2) are back in action Tuesday for a nonconference game against the Fort Smith Patriots. The Lady Warriors (7-2) and Warriors, who won’t have another home game until Jan. 15, travel to Pine Bluff for a pair of district games this weekend.
Chris Taylor, athletic director and boys basketball coach, has five returning starters from last year’s 9-11 team and all are at least 6 feet tall.
The Warriors are averaging 29 rebounds per game and taking advantage of their size inside.
Matt Landis, a 6-foot-3 junior post, leads the team, averaging 13 points and 10 rebounds. Landis posts up well and has a solid midrange jumper. He’s also a captain and team leader, Taylor said.
The Warriors’ off ense has come together after a lineup change moved freshman Blake Crossno (5-5) to point guard. Crossno runs the off ense well and gives Lucas Bell (6-0) and Caleb Taylor (6-1) a chance to produce from the wing.
The Warriors have also been solid defensively, allowing just 31 points per game.
Lady Warriors coach Tommy Laird thinks his young team — seven of the 10 varsity players are freshmen — will be in the mix at the end of the year.
The Lady Warriors went 8-13 last year and took second place at a postseason tournament. Freshman post Megan Crutchfield (5-7) leads the girls team from the inside while speedy guards wreak havoc on opposing teams.
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