Rhema Falls to Barclay 78-74

The Rhema Eagles saw their five-game winning streak snapped by the Barclay Bears in a 78-74 loss Tuesday night in Haviland, Kansas. The loss drops Rhema’s record to 8-14 for the season.

Neither team shot particularly well from the floor, both connecting on 34 percent of their shots. The Eagles shot 25 percent from beyond the arc, while the Bears shot 28 percent. Even free-throw shooting was close, as Rhema hit 76 percent of its attempts, while Barclay connected on 70 percent. Barclay, however, had 41 free-throw shots, compared to only 21 for the Eagles. Rhema was outscored from the charity stripe 29-16. The Eagles had four players foul out, had one other player with four fouls, while Barclay had no players with more than three fouls.

Eagles Down Crowley’s Ridge 86-76

The Rhema Eagles extended their winning streak to five games after defeating the Crowley’s Ridge Pioneers 86-76 at the Ninowski Recreation Center on Saturday. After starting the season 2-12, the Eagles have won six of their last seven games to improve to 8-13 for the year.

During the Eagles’ five-game winning streak, crashing the boards has been a major key to their success. Over the previous four games, Rhema outrebounded its opponents 202-136.

Rhema Overcomes Double-Digit Halftime Deficit to Win

For the second consecutive game, the Rhema Eagles found themselves trailing by double digits at halftime. And for the second consecutive game, the Eagles dominated the closing half to earn a come-from-behind victory.

Averaged Nearly 20 Points in Three Victories

Kasey Byrd, a freshman shooting guard for the Rhema Eagles, was named the USCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Co-Player of the Week. Byrd helped lead the Eagles to three straight victories this week. During that span he averaged 19.7 points and shot 42 percent from the field and 33 percent from beyond the arc.

For the season, Byrd leads the Eagles in points per game (12.3), three-pointers made (49), and three-point percentage (34 percent). He is tied for second on the team in free-throw percentage (74 percent) and is sixth on the team in rebounding (2.9).