The varsity boys and girls basketball team recently played conference games with Sumter and Emmanuel. The Lady Lions improved to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play with the two wins. They were led in scoring by Junior guard Miranda Hannah who had 16 and 8 points in the victories. Senior Brittany Masquelier and Freshman Sierra Morgan also provided key scoring in the wins. The boys varsity fell to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play with two hard fought games against Sumter and Emmanuel. Sophomore Caleb Martin  led the team in scoring for  the Lions in both games. The Lions resume play this Friday night at conference foe Southpointe CS.

GCS recently applied for and received a grant for $4,800.00 from the National Archery in the Schools Program. The grant gives GCS the use of all the equipment necessary for group and individual instruction in archery. The program will be piloted immediately by our JH PE classes under the direction of Mr Nathan Bushy who received approved training from the NASP organization.

The annual Alumni games along with the Father/Son JV game and GCS varsity boys playing the Faculty games took place on Friday, January 6. The Alumni even year graduates won for the first time since the new format was added. Led by 14 points from 2006 graduate Michael Fulmer and 12 points from Xavier Coker (2010) the even alumni pushed ahead after trailing at halftime 22-16. The final score was 59-39. Also scoring for the winners were John Scahill 9, Cody Morrison 8, Josh Ham and Daniel Monney 5 each and John Winn 4. Scoring for the losers were Brandon Nicholson (09) 15 points, Ryan Gaskins (09) 10 points, Derek Knight (05) 8 points, Cole Lanigan (07) 4 points and Kenny Knight (95) 2 points.

The Alumni girls defeated the GCS Varsity girls team 39-24. After a close 3 quarters the alumni pulled away in the fourth quarter for their final margin of victory. Jen Colwell (09) contributed 12 points with Leigh Partlow (05) scoried 9 points to pace the alumni ladies. Also scoring for the lady alumni were Amber Scahill, Laurynn Gorski, Katie Stevens, Skylar Lawrence, Brittany Webster with Katie Colwell and Olivia Downs also playing. The varsity girls were led in scoring by seniors Rachel Hair and Brittany Masqualier.

In the first game of the evening the dads defeated their JV sons. The games final game saw the faculty defeat the GCS varsity boys team 59-47. The faculty pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. Mr Kizzire and Mr Stevens scored 13 point a piece to lead the faculty. The Varsity was led by Andrew Kirchinger with 15 points and Caleb Martin, 13 points.

The Lions get back to action this Friday facing Sumter CS. This is also the Homecoming game and the 2012 Homecoming Queen will be crowned before the final game of the evening.

We always look forward to our annual Alumni Games to be held Friday, January 6, 2012. It is good to see our graduates come back for this event. The activities begin with our Dads v. JV boys game which begins at 4:00 pm. That game is followed by the Alumni Ladies v. GCS Varsity Girls at 5:00 pm. At 6:15 the Alumni men, odd graduation years takes on the Alumni men, even year graduates. This is always a very competitive game with some outstanding action. The last game of the evening has the Faculty of GCS taking on the GCS varsity boys team. Come on out and support the Lions and encourage our Alumni to get involved. See you on the 6th of January. Don't forget about the GCS Homecoming festivities to be held on Friday, January 13. One of our three candidates for homecoming queen will be crowned that evening. Our three candidates are Brittany Masquelier, Anna Shoop and Morgan Green.

December is always a busy month around GCS. It started with the annual Tip Off Tournament hosted by GCS. This year for the first time since 2003 both the boys and girls varsity teams won the championship. The girls had won in 2008. Seniors Charlie Alexander, Brittany Masquelier and Rachel Hair along with sophomore Caleb Martin received all-tournament selections. Both teams have finished out the pre-Christmas schedule. The girls have a record of 3-2 and the boys 2-2. Beginning in January the teams will begin a tough conference schedule with hopes of gaining a spot in this years state tournament.

The annual GCS Christmas Concert was a great success. The theme this year was "Christmas Around The World". The program was well received and over 700 were in attendance. This year each school family received a Christmas music CD with recordings from the singing and musical groups of GCS. The young people are now in preparation for their semester exams and then finish out this semester with their Christmas parties. It has been a good semester and the staff and students are all looking forward to some time off. School resumes January 4 and our annual Alumni games will be Friday, January 6.

                                                 MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE STAFF OF GRACE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL