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From the time the season began, Lubbock Christian could take the floor confident that a core group of players who have been in the gym since the first day of practice will be productive.

That has never wavered and was again on point Saturday against Denton Calvary in a TAPPS District 1-3A matchup.

So when the Eagles rolled past the Lions 68-31, it wasn’t surprising that the trio of Asher Fleming (19 points/4 rebounds/5 assists), Trew Farris (11 points) and Riley Schroeder (9 points/6 rebounds) were key cogs in another lopsided victory.

There are more layers to Lubbock Christian than those familiar faces, though, thanks in large part to the infusion of players who joined the basketball team after the Eagles steamrolled to a Class 3A state football championship in December.

Luke Lee

Lubbock Christian's Luke Lee shoots a two-pointer.

Two of the dual-sport standouts have stepped into the starting lineup and a third is one of the first players off the LC bench. That trio continued a trend of playing a major role  in the Eagles’ surge and were big again on Saturday.

Luke Lee and Joe Fernihough each registered 8 points and Josh Rogers chimed in with 7 to supply the supplementary scoring output that has helped make Lubbock Christian so dangerous this season.

“They did great when we were gone, but with the football guys back, it brings a lot more unity,” Lee said. “We’re more of a pack and there are no more loose ends.”

And often, very little doubt in the outcome of the game, which became true by the second quarter on Saturday.

Sparked by Farris and Fleming, Lubbock Christian (24-2, 10-0 district) methodically built an early lead by pounding the offensive glass and sharing the ball for second-chance points. Four of the Eagles’ first five buckets came from second opportunities and three were assisted.

Joe Fernilhough

Lubbock Christian's Joe Fernilhough drives down court.

Fernihough scored in the paint on a pass from Lee to put Lubbock Christian in front for good, 5-4, then drilled back-to-back 3-pointers in a 25-second span to balloon the lead to 20-7 at the 3:35 juncture of the opening period.

Those two treys were the crescendo of a 17-7 run that gave the Eagles control, but they had another even more effective haymaker coming.

Alex Nelson gave the Lions a pulse when he ended the first quarter with a 3 and began the second with another to keep Denton Calvary within 25-15. That was about the last gasp for Calvary, though.

Because when Lee snatched an offensive rebound off a missed 3-pointer, scored and made a free throw after getting fouled, the next 6:07 was all Lubbock Christian. The Eagles knocked down eight floor shots in a row, with Fleming dumping in 8 consecutive points in one stretch, during a 15-0 surge. When Rogers drove from the wing for a hoop, the LC lead was suddenly 40-15.

“It gets us all in a comfortable rhythm and we get the ball moving faster and getting easy buckets in transition,” Fernihough said of the two game-changing runs in the first half.

As impressive as the offensive part of the equation was, the Eagles’ defense also played a big part.

Luke Lee head shot

Lee

During the second scoring binge, Calvary missed six shots in a row – all one-and-done – and lost three turnovers. A pair of free throws finally stopped the bleeding, but the Lions were 1-for-10 from the floor in the second quarter and finished the day 11-for-36 (30.6%) after a promising beginning.

At the heart of that defensive effort was Lee, who might have racked up more floor burns than points.

“Defense is my thing,” he said. “I like to get on the floor and get dirty. Sliding around on the floor is kind of fun.”

Nothing was a lot of fun for Calvary in the second half.

Lubbock Christian uncorked a 9-0 hammer to start the third quarter, Lee providing the last 5 on fast-break layup and a 3. That extended the lead to 51-17 and allowed the Eagles to go into cruise control.

The focus shits to a busy week ahead with three home games in district play, starting Tuesday when old rival San Jacinto makes the trip south from Amarillo.

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LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN 68, DENTON CALVARY 31

Denton Calvary            12     5     8   6   --   31

Lubbock Christian       23   19   19   7   --   68

DENTON CALVARY (31) – Alex Nelson 3-10 0-0 8, Maverick Tatum 0-3 3-4 3, Creed Bielss 0-0 0-0 0, Barton 0-0 0-0 0, Hunter Outlaw 3-8 0-0 6, Jayce Hawkins 1-2 0-0 2, Abe Rozell 1-4 0-1 2, James Robertson 0-1 2-4 2, Head 2-4 0-0 4, Kam Bielss 1-3 2-2 4. Totals 11-36 7-11 31.

LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (68) – Trew Farris 5-11 0-0 11, Riley Schroeder 4-7 0-0 9, Asher Fleming 9-12 0-4 19, Joe Fernihough 3-5 0-0 8, Luke Lee 3-4 1-1 8, Cade Larson 1-3 0-0 2, Josh Rogers 3-4 1-2 7, Hayes Hubik 0-0 0-0 0, Josh Hawley 0-0 0-0 0, Ben Hawley 0-0 0-0 0, Welker Horn 1-2 0-0 2, Cooper Carthel 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 30-53 2-7 68.

3-point goals – Denton Calvary 2-15 (Nelson 2-9, Robertson 0-1, Outlaw 0-1, Rozell 0-1, Barton 0-1, Head 0-2); Lubbock Christian 6-18 (Fernihough 2-4, Schroeder 1-1, Lee 1-1, Fleming 1-3, Farris 1-6, Rogers 0-1, Horn 0-1, Carthel 0-1). Rebounds – Denton Calvary 16 (Rozell 6); Lubbock Christian 33 (Schroeder 7, Carthel 5). Assists – Denton Calvary 4 (Tatum 2); Lubbock Christian 16 (Fleming 5, Fernihough 3). Steals – Denton Calvary 3 (three players with 1); Lubbock Christian 8 (Fleming 3, Schroeder 2). Turnovers – Denton Calvary 20, Lubbock Christian 13. Total fouls – Denton Calvary 9, Lubbock Christian 15.

Records: Denton Calvary 16-18, 2-8 District 1-4A; Lubbock Christian 24-2, 10-0. Up next: Amarillo San Jacinto at  Lubbock Christian, 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Lubbock Christian 64, Fort Worth Temple Christian (Friday)

Fort Worth Temple Christian stuck around longer than most foes have against Lubbock Christian on Friday before a fourth-quarter push created some breathing room.

Temple Christian trailed most of the day, but used the 3-pointer to stay in range and trailed only 43-34 heading into the final stanza.

Farris took over in the last 8 minutes with 9 of his 21 points. He connected on two of LC’s 6 treys, with Farris burying three to fuel his 21-point performance.

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LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN 64, FORT WORTH TEMPLE CHRISTIAN 45

Temple Christian         11   17   6   11   --   45

Lubbock Christian       19   17   7   21   --   64

TEMPLE CHRISTIAN (45) – Noah Cisneros 6 2-2 15, Hezy Cisneros 3 0-0 9, Luke Cisneros 2 3-4 7, Rylan Alaniz 3 1-2 10,  Wilson Russell 1 0-0 2, Landry Limas 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 6-8 45.

LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (64) – Asher Fleming 9 0-0 21, Trew Farris 8 3-4 21, Riley Schroeder 2 3-6 7, Luke Lee 1 0-0 2, Joseph Fernihough 2 2-2 7, Cade Larson 1 0-0 2, Josh Rogers 0 2-2 2, Hayes Hubik 0 0-0 0, Welker Horn 0 0-0 0, Cooper Carthel 1 0-0 2. Totals 24 10-14 64.

3-point goals – Temple Christian 7 (Alaniz 3, H. Cisneros 3, N. Cisneros 1); Lubbock Christian 6 (Fleming 3, Farris 2, Fernihough 1). Total fouls – Temple Christian 11, Lubbock Christian 12. Fouled out – Limas. Records: Temple Christian 9-17, 4-5 District 1-4A; Lubbock Christian 23-2, 9-0.

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