Faith Baptist Prevails, 81-76, Halts Crossroads’ League Win Streak at 21

Twenty-one had tried, and as many had failed. Crossroads High held off each rally, thwarted every threat.

The thought of playing Crossroads was almost enough to make Faith Baptist forward Peter Rasmussen, a frank fellow if ever there was one, swallow his royal-blue mouthpiece.

“They’re always real tough in our league,” Rasmussen said. “They’re always real good. They always seem to find a way to win.”

There’s no such thing as always.

Behind Rasmussen’s team-high 25 points, Faith Baptist put an end to Crossroads’s 21-game Delphic League victory streak Tuesday night with an 81-76 win at Faith Baptist.

The victory moved the Contenders (15-5, 6-1 in league play) to within a half-game of first-place Crossroads (10-7, 7-1) in the league standings.

How rare was the Crossroads loss? The Roadrunners entered the game with a mark of 26-1 over the past three seasons. Rasmussen was a freshman the last time Faith Baptist knocked off Crossroads.

For part of the third quarter, it looked as if Faith Baptist was primed to be casualty No. 22. Crossroads ripped off a 15-5 streak to take a 49-41 lead with 3 minutes 40 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Faith Baptist answered by making its next six shots from the field to take a 55-53 lead. Rasmussen started the rally by scoring inside and tossing in a three-point basket. The ebb and flow had just begun, however.

With 5:25 to play, Darren Wyre (16 points) scored on a fast break to spark a 7-0 run by the Contenders, who took a 67-61 lead.

Junior center Austin Croshere (21 points) threw in back-to-back baskets for the Roadrunners and Bakir Allen (26 points) scored on a fast break to keep Crossroads within 69-67.

The teams exchanged a pair of free throws before Rasmussen scored on a 12-foot jump shot with 1:35 left. Allen scored again to cut the lead to two, but Alex Estrada took over from there for Faith Baptist.

Estrada, a senior guard who finished with 18 points and 11 assists, made a perfect pass inside to forward Etienne Moore (17 points, 14 rebounds) for an easy basket and made both ends of a one-and-one situation with 52 seconds remaining to give the Contenders a 77-71 lead.