Freshman’s 24 leads Lady Warriors, 50-39

KNOXVILLE — Christian Academy of Knoxville’s girls basketball team had a very effective one-two punch Thursday night, Dec. 21, at home against Middle Tennessee Christian School (Murfreesboro).

And it was good enough to give the Lady Warriors a 50-39 win, as CAK’s record stood at 9-5 overall while remaining a perfect 4-0 mark in Division II-A East Region action.

Versatile freshman guard Maddie Braden scored 24 points for the winners, and junior guard Karlie Whited added 15 as CAK built a 10-point halftime lead, increased it by the end of three quarter, then held off a Lady Cougars fourth-quarter run. 

“She can play,” CAK head coach Abby Williams said about Braden. “She’s not even scratched the surface. We’re asking her to do more. The sky’s the limit.”

“I think we played really well,” Braden said. “We had a great game together and just shared the ball.”

The Lady Warriors had 12 assists and only six turnovers. “We did a good job sharing the basketball,” Williams said.

Though MTCS cut the lead to 44-37, two free throws by sophomore guard Colie Thompson capped a 4-0 CAK run making it 48-37 with 1:12 left.