Legacy Academy wins hard-fought battle, extends lead in 2-2A

Legacy Academy’s Luke Sanchez makes a move toward the basket while defended by Oak Grove Classical Academy’s Brody Prochnow during Thursday’s game at Legacy Academy.

Jon Austria / Journal

James Yodice James Yodice James Yodice Journal Staff Writer

Published February 6, 2025 - 10:09 p.m. Modified February 7, 2025 - 10:22 p.m.

The move from 8-Man football to Class 2A football didn’t cause many wrinkles at Legacy Academy. In fact, the Silverbacks were one of the state’s best teams last fall.

The move from Class 1A basketball to 2A basketball has nearly been equally prosperous so far.

The Silverbacks, ranked sixth in Class 2A, earned one of their best wins of the season on Thursday night, holding off a spirited challenge from Oak Grove Classical Academy 58-52 in an exciting matchup inside Legacy’s tiny gym.

Legacy Academy (17-5) is 6-0 in District 2-2A, and the Silverbacks have swept the Owls (12-9, 4-2) in league play, and with just four games to go in the regular season, Legacy’s more or less locked in to be the top seed for the district tournament at the end of the month.

“We play them all the time, and they’re really competitive,” Legacy coach Brian Joyce said. “And it’s kind of like this every game (with them).”

Even with leading scorer Bryant Scales having limited contributions due to a couple of fouls (he had only five points before halftime), the Silverbacks led by 11 points at one point in the first half, led by nine (29-20) at the half, and extended to another 11-point edge midway through the third quarter.

Oak Grove surged, going on a 14-1 run to end the quarter, including two 3-pointers from Nico Moore and the Owls led 39-37.

That lead for Oak Grove swelled to six, at 44-38, before Legacy regained its footing.

Junior forward Josh Sanchez had only six points for Legacy but he was crucial in the fourth quarter. He had a bucket to help the Silverbacks regain the lead at 46-44, then added a terrific pass that led to a three-point play by Daniel Tavarez for a 49-47 lead, and Sanchez’s other basket in the quarter made it 52-49 with 80 seconds to go.

“Honestly, we all just huddled up. We had to lock in, because we were not playing to the best of our ability,” said Sanchez of Legacy squandering the 11-point lead in the second half. “But whenever we lock in, we play together as a team … we came back to win the game.”

And this win avoided a two-way tie for first with the Owls.

“Very important,” Sanchez said. “Gets us one step closer to winning our district.”

Scales led the Silverbacks with 14 points.

Senior forward Isaac Rush of Oak Grove led all scorers with 17 points, although he had just two points after halftime and the Silverbacks’ defense on Rush was, in the long run, key for Legacy Academy.

“We’re just hitting our stride, I think, at the right time,” Joyce said.