ROANOKE FLAMES WIN FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP

I am so proud today! I played basketball at Roanoke Bible College “back in the day.” We were independent, just started playing other colleges and, even though we came real close (double overtime loss at ABC in 93), we only ever finished second in tournaments. Check this story that was just sent to me this morning!!!

 

FLAMES BURN CRUSADERS, WIN TITLE

ROANOKE BIBLE TAKES SCC CHAMPIONSHIP

By Thom Chalfan, Sports Editor

Saturday, February 14, 2009

On the surface, it was David versus Goliath.

Roanoke Bible College had six players as compared to 13 for Christendom College. The Crusaders had won the Shenandoah and Chesapeake Conference title for four straight seasons and they had more players on the roster 6-foot-3 or taller than RBC had players. But none of that stopped the Flames, as they never trailed in a 66-58 victory in the SCC final at Chesson Gymnasium on Saturday.

“I’m very excited. This is the first championship we’ve ever won,” RBC coach Darrell Hairston said. “We’ve been here three times and we’ve lost it twice, so this time, it was really exciting to be here and pull it out at the end of the game.”

Once the game started, RBC jumped out to a quick lead and did not look back. Christendom (6-13, 5-1) tied the game once at 6-6 five minutes in, but the Flames scored seven straight and would hold no less than a four point lead the remainder of the first half. All six Flames contributed to the win — a fact that was easy to see early on. The first six RBC field goals were hit by different players.

“These six guys believed in each other and practiced well together,” Hairston said. “There was no one great guy — it was all of them playing their role.” In the second half, it looked as if the numbers game would catch up to RBC. The Flames led 48-35 with 11:31 left, but the Crusaders went to center Brian Fox and forward Sam McMahon and went on a 12-3 run, eventually cutting the deficit to 52-51 with 6:20 left. But Stephen Curry scored RBC’s next eight points, helping the Flames push the lead to 60-55 with 3:55 left. “He’s the point guard, the general of the team,” Hairston said. “When the game comes to the end, we put the ball in his hands and say, ‘Do what you can.’”

RBC clamped down defensively over the final few minutes, giving up just three points in the last four minutes, none in the final two. Despite having just one sub and having the Crusaders working hard to get a fifth foul on RBC’s Rob Daughtry late in the game, the Flames got through for a big win. “We’ve had five or six players all year long,” Hairston said. “So what we’ve worked on in practice is staying in shape. We knew they were going to come at us, throw everything at us. My guys held on and sucked it up and pulled it out at the end of the game.”

RBC has one more game left in the regular season at Voorhees on Thursday and finish the season at the Small Bible College National Invitational Tournament in Chicago, Feb. 26-28. 

As a former player and proud RBC Alumnus, I just wanted to say “Way to go Flames!!!” Congrats to Coach Hairston – Darrel, I know you taught them boys how to play Flames defense! Now, where do I buy my conference champs T-Shirt and hat!?!?!?