Trinity Christian School’s basketball team is an. unexpected contender for a regional championship.
BY NOAH GRIFFITH FOR THE OBSERVER
OPELIKA –– The Trinity boys basketball team won’t strike fear into opponents at first glance. Nobody on the team will tower over opponents or dust them in a race. Many of their players excel in balancing academics with theatre or band off the court – not training to play college athletics.
But in head coach Noah Gardner’s first year coaching basketball, Trinity Christian School’s boys basketball team has stood its ground on an unprecedented path to a regional championship. Trinity, albeit one of the smallest schools in Lee County, has caught the attention of the community and accumulated an unwavering fan base as it continues to defy the odds.
The heart of the team has become apparent by all who have witnessed them turn a 1-6 start into a region title in their first year in the AISA. The Observer received an e-mail about the team from Penny Eargle, who referred to herself as “just an excited fan.”
“This team has truly bonded and created such an excitement within their school community,” Eargle said. “They are small and mighty but have hearts of true champions.”
After a five-game losing streak early in the season, Gardner and his boys sat at 1-6, but their final loss in that span sparked some momentum among the team. Bessemer Academy – who sits at 18-1 and in first place in AISA 3A – defeated Trinity by 27 the first time they met. When they met for a rematch four games later, the final score was 58-51.
Trinity went 7-3 the rest of the way to earn an 8-9 record overall, while going 5-1 in its first year in Region 1 of AISA 1A. Capping off a four-game win streak to end the regular season, Trinity defeated Evangel Christian in two consecutive matchups in a three-day span to lock up first place in the region.
“I think that’s the big thing that washed over me on the bus ride home (from Montgomery after clinching the region) – just how thankful I am for the kids I get to coach,” Gardner said. “They’re good, good kids. They love God, they want to serve each other and serve their school. They play with class, effort and intensity, and they never have a bad attitude.”
The passion the team displays is centered around three brothers. The first three names called onto the court each game each end with Riddle. Senior Brandon Riddle leads the way for his twin brothers: sophomores Nate and Josh Riddle.
While Gardner emphasized the togetherness of the team over each individual, he spoke about how special it is to see the brothers take the court together and push one another’s competitive drive. The boys, who have grown up as one another’s competition, now get to make plays in unison on the court, and Brandon takes the initiative to make his younger brothers better.
The competitive nature of the Riddles boosts the intensity from the entire team in practice. The result is what fans have started calling “Riddle Mania.”
“Riddle mania is happening at Trinity Christian School in Opelika,” Eargle said. “Three brothers are the heart and soul of this team… They may not be the Kelce brothers or even the Watt brothers but brothers they are on and off the court.”
Looking to carry that heart and cohesive play into the playoffs, Trinity is taking things one game at a time – starting with the Elite 8 on Saturday, at 3:30 p.m. in Opelika’s Covington Recreation Center. It will face the winner of Tuesday’s game between Snook and Meadowview Christian schools.
When all is said and done, this team is focused on pushing its limits in a year they entered without any outside expectations.
Whether Trinity wins a championship or loses its first playoff game, Gardner knows his team gave their best effort. Some might say Trinity’s season was an uphill battle, but the team just thinks they’re aboard the best roller coaster ever.
As long as the joy ride keeps chugging, Trinity will scare opponents with its relentless energy on the floor.
“We lost our first game of the season in heartbreaking fashion to our rival (Oaks),” Gardner said. “We led the whole way. They hit a three with two seconds left to put us away. I remember going home that night, and my wife asked, ‘How was it?’ I told her: ‘It was so much fun.’”