Friday night inside the gym felt like a developmental showcase as Mintz Academy and Mullins-Marion Christian met in a doubleheader that highlighted growth, effort, and the long-term vision of both programs. While the Lions controlled the JV boys contest wire-to-wire and Mullins-Marion’s varsity girls used defensive pressure to pull away, both benches came away emphasizing progress over the scoreboard.
JV boys: Mintz Academy 26, Mullins-Marion Christian 12
Mintz Academy’s junior varsity boys set the tone early, relying on discipline, ball movement, and steady defensive pressure to build momentum throughout the first half.
With 3:11 remaining before halftime, the Lions had already carved out an 11-3 advantage, limiting Mullins-Marion’s opportunities and forcing the Cavaliers to grind for each possession. Mullins-Marion finally broke its scoring drought when Landin Baxley buried a three from the top of the key, briefly injecting energy into the Cavaliers’ bench.
Mintz responded with poise, answering just before the horn to carry a 13-6 lead into the break.
The Lions wasted no time reclaiming control in the second half. Mullins-Marion struck first, but Henley Moore immediately answered, setting the tone for a stretch that showcased Mintz’s chemistry. Moments later, Moore ignited a fast break, finding Tyson Faircloth, who finished cleanly to extend the lead to 19-7 with 43 seconds left in the third quarter.
Moore’s impact went beyond scoring. He grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed Cavaliers free throw, extending the possession, then delivered another well-timed assist to Faircloth midway through the fourth quarter as Mintz stretched its lead to 24-9 with two minutes remaining.
Mullins-Marion continued to battle. Brayden Brown snapped the Lions’ run with a free throw, then followed with a strong post move for two. Mintz, however, sealed the outcome when Landon Edwards scored inside for the final basket, securing the 26-12 victory.
Mullins-Marion JV head coach, Brad Caulder, praised his team’s resolve despite the result.
“That’s honestly what we’ve been working toward all year,” Caulder reflected. “That fight, regardless of the score, that’s what I congratulated them on. This group is small, but they work extremely hard in practice. They’re learning the game and they’re learning how to grow as young men.”
Caulder emphasized that progress, not wins alone, defines success for his squad.
“Our motto this year has been, ‘I can be better, I will be better,’” he explained. “We’re trying to become better men as well as better basketball players. If you’re seeing improvement, that’s a win in itself.”
Looking at the season’s second half, Caulder noted tangible growth.
“Our defense is better. Our rebounding is better. Our passing is improving,” he said. “We’re still trying to consistently put the ball through the basket, but overall, I’m very pleased with where we’re headed.”
Mintz Academy head coach Dan Heinz, who oversees both JV and varsity programs, echoed that sentiment from the opposing sideline.
“The chemistry with this JV group is coming along,” Heinz commented. “They’re still developing and growing into themselves, but you can see the pieces starting to fit.”
Heinz added that the future remains bright.
“This group is learning how to play together,” he continued. “The communication is better, the effort is there, and that’s exciting as a coach. There’s a lot to be optimistic about with these guys.”
Varsity girls: Mullins-Marion Christian 43, Mintz Academy 28
The varsity girls’ matchup opened as a defensive chess match, with both teams trading stops and probing for rhythm.
Mintz jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with 4:16 remaining in the first quarter, before Mullins-Marion began to settle in. The Lady Lions briefly extended their advantage, but Carmen Ard answered from the free-throw line to pull the Lady Cavaliers closer.
The quarter ended tightly contested. With the score tied 4-4, Mullins-Marion earned a trip to the line late and converted one of three free throws to edge ahead 5-4 entering the second period.
Momentum shifted quickly in the second quarter. Mullins-Marion opened with possession, but Mintz forced a turnover. The Cavaliers answered right back when Ceanna Jacobs jumped the passing lane, ran the break, and capitalized by finishing with a left-handed layup. The defensive intensity ramped up on both ends, and Jacobs struck again moments later, reading the lane and converting another steal into points.
Mintz briefly ended its scoring drought, but Ard responded with an elbow three, pushing Mullins-Marion’s lead to 15-6. Additional baskets from Peyton Howard and Joy Gause extended the cushion, sending the Lady Cavaliers into halftime with a 21-6 advantage.
Jacobs led all scorers at the break with 10 points, while Mintz’s scoring came from Savannah Strickland, Regan Hair, and Hanna Bass, each with two.
Mintz showed resilience coming out of the locker room. Regan Hair scored twice early, followed by a smooth midrange jumper from Jordyn Jackson, trimming the deficit to 21-12 during a six-point run.
Jacobs halted the surge with a free throw, then sparked another Cavaliers run by forcing steals and converting layups as Mullins-Marion pushed the lead to 29-12 with 4:25 remaining in the third.
Mintz refused to fold. Addilyn Benton broke another drought with a basket, followed by a strong post finish from Naylor and a three from Hair to close the gap to 35-21 heading into the final quarter.
Jackson scored Mintz’s first points of the fourth with four minutes left, and Bailey Hargrove later knocked down an elbow three. Mullins-Marion maintained control down the stretch, and the running clock expired with the Lady Cavaliers securing a 43-28 victory.
Mullins-Marion head coach, Lacey Johnson, credited his team’s identity but acknowledged room for improvement.
“Our focus is pressure,” Johnson explained. “We want to play fast, speed the game up, and move the basketball as quickly as possible.”
While pleased with the defensive activity, Johnson said execution remains a work in progress.
“I don’t think we were as clean as we need to be,” he admitted. “But I can see that we’re heading in the right direction. The effort is there, and the girls are starting to understand what we’re trying to do.”
Mintz head coach Dan Heinz emphasized perspective after the loss.
“We’re a young group,” Heinz said. “There’s definitely some inexperience, and that showed at times, but these girls are learning.”
Heinz stressed patience and belief in the process.
“We have to trust it,” he continued. “If we come in every day trying to get a little better, the results will eventually follow. Growth is happening, even when it’s not always reflected on the scoreboard.”