The Light with Raymond Tyler
The Atlantic City Vikings have kicked off another exciting season of high school hoops.
On Thursday, Dec. 14, the Atlantic City High School Vikings boys basketball team (coached by Wayne Nelson) began the 2023-2024 high school basketball season, and gave alumni like me an early Christmas gift by way of a 57 to 30 win over the Holy Spirit Spartans.
The two schools for decades have competed for student athletes in all sports.
The student body and the alumni recognize the annual Thanksgiving football game as the main school rivalry game between ACHS and Holy Spirit.
The sports competition for “bragging rights” this time of year moves from the gridiron onto the hardwood.
The Vikings put on a show, made sweeter by the fact that several of the starters for the Vikings were former Holy Spirit Spartans that transferred to Atlantic City, while Holy Spirit started three freshman players.
Starting those freshmen on a high school basketball team is a move that will bring rewards for the next three seasons. The freshmen will gain valuable experience and learn how each school in the conference plays.
Starting three freshmen seemed a little disrespectful. Disrespectful or not, former Spartan now starting player for the Vikings, Khajuan Roseborough, led all scorers with 25 points. Roseborough did more damage by passing out 6 assists.
Former Spartan now a starter for the Vikings, Frank Gilliam, led all rebounders with 11 boards and 11 points (a respectable double/double).
The home side of the gym was more than three quarters full, and the away side, the Holy Spirit side of the gym, was more than half full with people coming to root for the Spartans.
As an ACHS alumni and hoops fan, it was great to see the Vikings send the Spartans back to Absecon with their first loss of the season.
The ACHS varsity girls basketball team lost their home opener to the Lady Spartans, 52 to 42.
The Holy Spirit Spartans girls basketball team put together a solid game plan and left the Atlantic City home gym with a win.
The Lady Spartans were led by Sabrina Little who poured in 14 points and picked up 4 steals. Bridget Roach led Atlantic City with 14 points in the loss.
In short, the local high school basketball season is underway. I am proud of all the coaches, volunteers, staff and players who will make this another great season of hoops for fans across the Shore Local area.
You can connect with Raymond Tyler via Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram @RaymondTyler2018.
