Sophomore Rylan Slavens added 11 points for the Warriors, who improved to 11-2 and 5-0 in the MBC. With the victory, Dayton Christian grabbed a two-game lead in the conference over second place Emmanuel Christian (11-4, 5-2).
“We were lucky to come in and execute our plan in the first half,” said Warriors coach Chip James, who recently earned his 100th career victory. “We knew we would need that kind of lead. With them being at home and it being a big game, we knew they would come roaring back. They kind of did there for a while and we got our composure back and then handled it at the end. It was a big game in our conference.”
Junior Nathan Hudson had 19 points and sophomore Josh Witherow had 14 points for Emmanuel Christian, which entered the contest on a four-game winning streak.
“I told the guys these are games that you live for, this is what you want,” said Lions coach Brandon Peterson. “You want to be in this position. (Dayton Christian) is a super talented team, super tough. We played the way I wanted to play. The fact that they did not give up, I was pleased with their fight.”
Kidd had 17 points in the first half, including nine in the second quarter.
“He’s a special kid and special athlete,” James said. “At some point, we were like, if he gets it, let him go. It was one of those nights where we felt like he could get to the basket and get easier shots. He was very efficient, too.”
Trailing by 17 at the half, the Lions fought back, but weren’t able to make it a two-possession game. They cut the lead to eight points in the second half, but couldn’t get any closer.
“I loved the positivity that was there in the fourth quarter and even the third quarter,” Peterson said. “We came up short, but that’s what we were hoping to do, just be in the ball game.”
The Lions travel to Catholic Central on Tuesday night in a battle of small school Clark County rivals. The Irish and Lions could face off in the Division VII sectional tournament.
“We go from one exciting game to the next so we’re excited about that,” Peterson said.
Midway through the conference race, the Warriors remain undefeated. They’ve won every conference game by doubledigits.
“I’m just happy for our guys,” James said. “It’s a hard place to play. I think someone said we’ve won five in a row here, so I’m just happy for our guys.”
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