Category: Lighthouse

Wyatt Leads Mohawks to Three Wins, Named POW

John Melvin Christian (FL) picked up three wins coming off the Christmas break last week, led by the work of Joshua Wyatt. The 6’3″ junior guard averaged 14 ppg along with 12 rpg, shooting 18-32 from the field. Wyatt put up 17 points, grabbed 12 boards, dished out 5 assists, and snagged 6 steals against Florida Coastal on Friday. For his outstanding performance, Wyatt has been named the NSAC Player of the Week.

For the season Josh is averaging 16.3 ppg and 7.2 rpg while shooting 57% FG and 42.6% from deep.

Sam Benton, Jr. of Lighthouse and Keith Shakes, Jr. of MACU earned Honorable Mention.

Congrats to all three!

Brown Earns Record Fourth POW Honor

Eddie Brown continues to blister the basket for Lighthouse Christian. The 6’0″ junior from Pensacola went 10-of-19 from the floor, including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc, to load up 43 points in the Makos’ 117-77 rout of John Melvin (LA) on Friday and improve to 5-0 in conference play. For a record fourth time, Brown is the NSAC Player of the Week.

Congratulations, Eddie!

Brown Leads Makos to Pair of Wins in KY, Earns POTW

Lighthouse Christian picked up two road wins last week to improve to 8-2 on the season and was led by none other than Eddie Brown.

The defending NSAC Player of the Year continued to bolster his resume against Simmons College on Friday night, shooting 7-of-16 from the floor (3-of-6 from three) and a perfect 6-of-6 from the line for 23 points in an 81-62 win.

On Saturday, the junior guard added 26 points while snagging six rebounds in an impressive win over NCCAA second-ranked Campbellsville-Harrodsburg.

For an outstanding two days’ work in the Bluegrass State, the Makos’ Eddie Brown has been named the NSAC Player of the Week for a record third time.

Congrats, Eddie!

Makos Pick Up Two Wins in Leesburg

LEESBURG, Fl. – Lighthouse Christian made the most of its two-night junket to Leesburg, Florida, picking up NSAC wins over Beacon and Southeast Christian on consecutive nights.

The Makos (6-2 overall, 3-0 NSAC) fell behind early on Monday night to the Blazers, who played inspired ball and took an early six-point advantage, but a 12-0 LCC run put the Makos on top for good. After leading by as many as 20 points, Beacon (2-8, 1-1) chipped away to close the gap to 87-74 at the buzzer.

After playing Monday’s game on Southeast’s home floor, the Makos felt right at home on Tuesday night, jumping out to 7-0 and 14-4 advantages over the struggling Eagles (0-8, 0-5) and never looked back in cruising to a 105-68 victory.

The wins catapult Lighthouse to the top of the NSAC standings.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Brown Named Player of the Week

Lighthouse’s Eddie Brown has picked up where he left off last year. Last week, the defending NSAC Player of the Year scored 26 points versus the University of Mobile JV and poured in 32 vs John Melvin (LA) in the Mako’s first conference win of the season. With those performances, the 6’0″ junior from Pensacola, Florida is named the NSAC Player of the Week.

Congrats, Eddie!

Lighthouse Lights it Up for First Conference Win

CROWLEY, La. – Lighthouse Christian got 35 points from Eddie Brown and 26 from Daniel Poole as the Makos outran John Melvin (LA) 111-97 for their first NSAC win of the year.

Lighthouse (3-2 overall, 1-0 NSAC) was led by Brown’s 8-of-13 (61%) shooting from beyond the arc and 12-of-25 (48%) overall while Poole was lighting it up closer to the bucket 9-of-13 (69%) and Wol Yak added 21 points at a blistering 9-of-10 (90%) clip. Marcus White recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards while Sam Benton, Jr. added 10 points and dished out eight assists in the win.

Tayshaun Colomb led the Millers (3-3, 1-1) with 29 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals.

Second-Half Surge Lifts Lighthouse 110-78

MILTON, Fl. – Lighthouse Christian got 26 points apiece from Eddie Brown and Wol Yak in downing Mobile (JV) 110-78 Monday night.

The Makos (2-2) exploded for 72 points in the second half to put away the visiting Rams.

Sam Benton, Jr. and Daniel Poole each added 16 for LCC.

Lighthouse opens its NSAC season this Saturday at John Melvin (LA).

Apprentice Defends NSAC Title, Downing Lighthouse 58-55

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Apprentice School men’s basketball team captured its second straight New South Athletic Conference Tournament Championship after holding off the top-seeded Lighthouse Christian Makos 58-55 Sunday afternoon.

The Builders and Makos traded buckets through the first 10 minutes before Apprentice went on a 10-2 run to stretch a one-point lead into a nine-point lead with just under eight minutes to go in the first half. The Builder lead went to as many as 12 before the Makos started chipping away, trailing by just eight at halftime.

LCC came out in the second half and caused Apprentice to turn the ball over several times, trimming the lead down to as few as two with eight minutes to go after trailing by as many as 14 early in the second half. The Makos could never get over the proverbial hump, however, as the Builders answered each run with a basket to stretch the lead back out.

Lighthouse got the lead down to one point with under 10 seconds to go, but Avin Hawkins hit both ends of a 1-and-1 to seal the win.

Adrion Wall led all scorers with 24 points, including four three pointers. Donovan Means was a rebound short of a double-double with 11 points and nine boards.

The Makos were led by Chayse Culpepper and Daniel Poole with 18 points each, while NSAC Player of the Year Eddie Brown was held to just 11 points on the day, going 5-for-20 from the floor.

With the win, Apprentice improves to 22-5 on the season as they look ahead to the USCAA National Tournament set to begin in one week in Petersburg, Virginia. The Builders have been the No. 1 team in the national coach’s poll since the start of the calendar year.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics

Lighthouse Outshines MACU in NSAC Semis

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Top-seed Lighthouse Christian used a balance scoring attack and strong rebounding to hold off fourth-seeded Mid-Atlantic Christian 84-69 Saturday afternoon and advance to the NSAC Men’s Basketball Tournament finals.

Lighthouse jumped out toa 9-0 lead and led 50-33 at the half behind Eddie Brown’s 16 points, but MACU held Brown in check much of the second half until the NSAC MVP was forced to leave the game with cramps in both legs with 5:45 to play. The Mustangs trimmed the Makos’ lead to 10 on several occasions, but could get to closer.

All five starters scored in double figures for LCC, led by Chayse Culpeper’s 19. Joshua Tyler scored 19 to lead MACU.

Lighthouse advances to face 2nd-seed Apprentice, which defeated 6th-seed Central International 111-80. The championship game will be Sunday at 2:00 pm.

Becheli Named NSAC Coach of the Year

Lighthouse Christian coach Adjalma “Vando” Becheli has been named as the 2023-24 New South Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year.

Becheli led the Makos to the regular season championship in their first year of conference play with a 3-1 NSAC record and 18-4 overall. In their first two seasons as a program, Becheli has guided LCC to an overall record of 33-9.

Becheli hails from Brazil where he played and coached professional basketball. His professional career in Brazil spanned 13 years that included “Coach of the Year” recognition, the youngest in Brazilian basketball history to be so honored.

His first U.S. collegiate head coaching job was at Utah State Eastern, guiding the men’s basketball program from 2012 to 2020. He left Utah for the warmth of Florida and a position at Florida Coastal Prep, a program he still contributes to while leading the Makos. He also has coached and guided several players from Brazil and elsewhere to the U.S., including players to the NBA.

Congratulations to Vando Becheli, the NSAC Coach of the Year!