Vernon Parish was represented well this past Friday and Saturday at the Association of Christian Educators of Louisiana Basketball State Championships held in Pineville Louisiana.

The #2 Faith Training Christian Academy Patriots (16-3) lost a heartbreaker to #3 Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School (10-4). The final score was 43-35. The Patriots handled the Eagles twice earlier in the year and putting them away a third consecutive time proved to be too much.

The Patriots had a few too many turnovers early in the first quarter but were able to claw back and were only trailing by 3 entering the second half.

The Patriots found themselves in foul trouble and the game started slipping away during the 3rd quarter. Halfway through the 4th period, the Patriots began to press which was effective and brought the game back within reach but a late 3 by Bishop Noland sealed their fate and the Patriots went home after their third straight appearance in the semi-finals.

The ACEL league also holds a JV end of season tournament in which the young up-and-coming Lady Patriots took home the runner-up title with a score of 34-21. Long-time head coach Walter Young has a talented group of young ladies poised to be a yearly contender for the varsity title for the next 2-4 years.