Columbus — On a night filled with celebration and competition, Tree of Life Christian welcomed alumni back for an evening of basketball. The event featured four games, highlighted by an overtime victory in girls basketball, and concluded with the boys basketball team facing Madison Christian in a league matchup.
It quickly became clear that the game would come down to which team could find their rhythm first. The first quarter proved challenging for the Trojans, who struggled with consistency and flow on offense. With turnovers and missed shots, they managed just two field goals in eight minutes of play. Fortunately for them, Madison Christian faced similar struggles, and the Eagles held a slim 5-4 lead after a defensive-heavy first quarter.
In this game, it was Tree of Life who found their rhythm first. After a rough start, the Trojans gained momentum in the second quarter, with Jesse Kanu leading the charge and scoring half of their 12 points. Meanwhile, the Eagles continued to struggle offensively, allowing the Trojans to take a 16-9 lead into halftime.
At halftime, Trojans Head Coach Bill Brown urged his team to reset and approach the second half with a fresh mindset. “We told them to forget about the first half and play our game,” Brown explained. “We really focused on getting them to move the ball. Lanes will open up, you’ll be able to get to the rim, and get some cleaner looks.”
The Trojans embraced their coach’s halftime message, coming out with renewed energy and focus in the second half. Senior RaKim White led the charge in the third quarter, stepping up offensively to spark a 22-point surge for Tree of Life. Typically known for his defensive tenacity, White’s efforts were pivotal, contributing to his 15-point performance in the game. Coach Brown praised White’s leadership and versatility: “He gets us going mainly with our defense—he’s our best on-ball defender,” Brown said. “We also want him to distribute the ball. When he does, it opens up things for him. We emphasize patience with him and sharing the ball, as it creates opportunities.”
The third-quarter surge proved decisive, as the Trojans built an insurmountable 22-point lead and secured a 50-24 victory over Madison Christian. RaKim White led the way with 15 points, while Kaiden Bray and Jesse Kanu each contributed seven points to the win.
With the Trojans now sitting at 2-1 in conference play, the focus shifts to continued improvement and growth. “Offensively, we need to move the ball, but defensively, we have to create offense from defense,” Coach Brown emphasized. “We’ve got to ratchet up our pressure a little bit more. It is a league win, though, and we’ll take it.”
Tree of Life Christian (3-1, 2-1) will look to carry this momentum into their final game before Christmas, hosting Liberty Christian Academy on December 17th.
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