Rock Church School basketball team wins ACE national title
Published 6:49 pm Thursday, June 30, 2022
The Rock Church School varsity basketball team won the 2022 ACE National Championship, bringing home the title for the first time in program history. Team members pictured are, from left, Jordan Myrick, Luke Blythe, Danny Dillon, Alex Deaton, Seth Woodward, Adam Deaton, Justin Temple, Cole Butler and D.J. Dillon. (Photo courtesy of Rock Church School)
Rock Church School varsity basketball team stars Jordan Myrick, left, and D.J. Dillon showcase some of the hardware that the program earned. (Photo courtesy of Rock Church School)
The Rock Church School varsity basketball team defeated programs from Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia en route to winning the 2022 ACE National Tournament. Rock team members pictured are, from left, front row, Justin Temple, Seth Woodward, waterboy Dallas Dillon, Benny Dillon, Alex Deaton; back row, Assistant Coach Bobby Woodward, Assistant Coach Danny Saavedra, Cole Butler, Adam Deaton, Luke Blythe, Jordan Myrick, D.J. Dillon and Head Coach Danny Dillon. (Photo courtesy of Rock Church School)
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The Franklin-based Rock Church School varsity basketball team has made seven appearances in the ACE National Tournament during the squad’s 43 years of existence as a program, but the Lions had never been able to win it all — until this year.
In April, the Rock Lions traveled to West Virginia and claimed the regional championship, which gave them an invitation to the ACE International Student Convention, a school news release stated. This convention allows students to compete in a variety of events, from arts, to academics, to athletics. There are more than 6,000 ACE schools worldwide, and the Rock Lions proved they are the best ACE basketball program in the U.S. for 2022.
Rock traveled to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania to participate in the national tournament. The Lions defeated teams from Michigan, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Arkansas to advance to the championship game against Pennsylvania-based Fairview Christian Academy, which won the 2021 national title.
With four minutes left in the championship game, the Rock Lions found themselves down 13 points. Somehow they worked their way back into the game.
They were down only two points with 14 seconds left. The Lions fouled Fairview’s best player, who then had a one-and-one, giving him the opportunity to make two free throws and seal the win, as long as he made the first free throw. He missed, and Rock got the rebound.
Junior point guard D.J. Dillon brought the ball down the court, used a screen to his right and launched a deep 3-pointer. The shot went in as the buzzer sounded, and the Rock Lions’ players tackled Dillon on the court.
“I got a great screen from Seth (Woodward) and pump faked,” Dillon said. “My teammates got me in the right spot. The shot felt good as soon as it left my hands. I just praise God for this opportunity.”
Lions junior power forward Jordan Myrick said, “God honored us with the championship because of how we honor Him through our season.”
Rock Head Coach Danny Dillon gave God the glory for the historic win and noted that D.J. and Myrick were unstoppable throughout the national tourney.
“I’m undone that D.J. was able to hit that shot,” Coach Dillon said. “As a coach and a father, I couldn’t be more proud. It was one of the coolest moments of my life. We celebrate God for giving us this victory!”
