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CCA continues to enjoy basketball success

By Danny C. Davis

CCA continues to enjoy basketball success

Clinton Christian Academy has had much success on the basketball court over recent years, with championships won by both girls and boys programs in the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS).

The recent success has come under the tenure of Coach Josh Zeitz, who coached both the girls’ and boys’ programs in past years and this year assigned head coach responsibilities for the Lady Warriors to Coach Marcus Washington.

In 2020, the Lady Warriors were Class 3A girls basketball MAIS runner-up state champs, and, this year, they secured the MAIS Class 3A state championship. In 2021, the Warrior boys basketball teams went to the Class 3A MAIS state championship, and, this year, to the Class 4A MAIS state championship.

The boys team set a school record this past season, going 39-5, and also beating Jackson Prep and Madison Ridgeland Academy twice during the regular season, before falling to Jackson Prep in the finals of the MAIS overall championship for all classifications.

This past season was the best ever for the boys basketball team at CCA, led by senior K.J. Sykes, the MAIS boys Class 4A Basketball Player of the Year for not only 2023, but also for the 2022 season when he was a junior. Sykes averaged 24 points a game, four assists and four steals this past season. He has started on the varsity basketball team at CCA since he was in the seventh grade. Sykes recently signed with Holmes Community College.

Also leading CCA this past season was junior Trey Alexander, who averaged 17 points, three assists and 8 rebounds a game and made the All-MAIS Class 4A team. Junior L. J. Jones averaged 13 points, and K.J. Lambert, a junior transfer from Clinton High School, made fifty-three-pointers this past season.

According to Zeitz, junior Josh Johnson was the team’s most improved player as a defender and rebounder in 2023. Jones, Lambert and Johnson were all selected to the all-district team. Sophomore Cooper Loftin and freshman Jacob Zeitz came off the bench to provide energy to the team.

The Warriors were also coached by assistants Doug Williams and Marcus Washington.

“I would like to thank coaches Williams and Washington for the success we had this year,” said Zeitz.

“It was a great season for us, and we are already looking forward to next year.”



 

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