After both Charger basketball squads fell hard at Earlham Thursday, ACGC had the even tougher task of welcoming the Des Moines Christian Lions in a double-header set Friday night in Guthrie Center.

The girls dropped to 0-8 on the season with a 52-21 loss to the Lions. Things were looking up early for the Lady Chargers, as they had an early 8-4 lead in the first quarter. However, the talented trio of Olivia Penland, Kaili Lawson, and Ava Van Soelen took control of the game for DMC. The Lions held a 34-14 lead into the half, and never looked back. Mady Smith led all Chargers with six points. Even with the loss, the Chargers got some great news. Junior leading scorer Sierra O’Brien only sustained a bone bruise in the loss to Panorama last Saturday. O’Brien will return to the court this season, likely after the holiday break.

The Charger boys also had a tough time containing the prolific Lions offense. DMC jumped out to a 17-4 lead before head coach Jake Mohling emphatically called a timeout. The Chargers responded quickly with a 6-1 run to cut the lead to 8. But Isaac Prewitt showcased his skills. The WCAC leading scorer dropped 27 points on the Chargers and helped the Lions cruise to a 67-37 victory.

Both Charger teams will look to stop the slump next Thursday with a non-conference, rivalry doubleheader against the Coon Rapids-Bayard Crusaders. Tip off is scheduled for 6 pm for the girls, immediately followed by the boys. You can catch that game on KKRF2, with pre-game coverage starting at 5:45.