Why FACS basketball can be optimistic despite first loss of season in Battle in the Bluff

First Assembly Christian School basketball trailed Bartlett by eight points at halftime. Jacob Walker kickstarted the third quarter, scoring the Crusaders' first seven points, and getting them within four points.

The Crusaders (6-1) weren’t able to get in front of the Panthers (11-0), losing 72-54 in the Battle in the Bluff at Bartlett High School’s McDonald Insurance Arena on Saturday night.  

But it did give coach Dee Wilkes an optimistic perspective.  

Wilkes wanted First Assembly Christian School to face the gauntlet in the beginning of the season. So, in a five-day span he scheduled White Station, Houston and Bartlett; all Class 4A teams. He wanted the Crusaders to be challenged in their non-region games.  

"A team like us, we shouldn’t even be in the game with them,” Wilkes said. “But that’s why I scheduled the games, I wanted to see where we at.” 

He also got to see Walker, a junior for the Crusaders, step up in a big way as well. Walker finished with 22 points in the loss. 

Wilkes knew what he had in MJ Hayes and Cello Jackson, two of the area’s top sophomores this season. As freshmen, they already had a spotlight on them. There are even more expectations this season.  

The best thing about the core of that team sticking together for another season is the chemistry is stronger. But when Hayes and Jackson were taken out against Bartlett, which was the second game of a back-to-back for the Crusaders who beat Houston on Friday, to see Walker and Chris Carroll step up was a positive takeaway.  

"Jacob does it all for us,” Wilkes said. “He can get to the rim, shoot it, make big shots, take big shots and it’s fun watching him develop.” 

It’s also why Wilkes, Hayes and Jackson have high expectations.  

"We know the adversity we’re facing right now, everybody wants to beat us,” said Jackson, who finished with 10 points. “And we’re a young team. It’s all about playing hard and coming together as one.” 

And in losses like Saturday, there’s a lesson to be learned.  

"I just want them to know that we are one of the best teams in the city," said Wilkes. "Tonight didn’t show that, but we are one of the best teams in the city and we can compete with anybody.” 

FACS finished second in the region last season and had its playoff run cut short at the buzzer. This time around, they’re looking to make a run.  

"We’re way comfortable now,” Jackson said. “... This loss is going to help us a lot.”

Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @wynstonw__.