By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Two-time defending Class C state basketball champion Reserve Christian hasn’t lost a step, as the team already appears to be in mid-season form.

The Eagles are 8-0 after defeating Bethany Christian Wednesday in the first round of the Jehovah Jireh tournament in Baton Rouge, 53-42, and defeating

Family Christian in the second round on Thursday, 61-33.

The Eagles (8-0, 2-0) have outscored their opposition by 27 points per game this season. The win over Bethany (4-5) follows a game the two teams played last Friday, in which the Eagles won 52-33.

Reserve Christian Coach Timmy Byrd felt his team came out sluggish in Wednesday’s win, but was pleased overall with the team’s play on Friday.

“We got some good play out of Kyle McClue and Chris Roussel,” said Byrd. “Eddrin (McCain) did a very good job getting everyone involved.”

In the tournament game, McCain scored 25 and McClue 16. In the regular season win, Roussell led the way with 17 points, while Kaliff Gastearl scored 12.

In the victory over Family Christian, Roussel scored 29 points.

Byrd is pleased with the team’s start to the 2007-08 campaign, especially considering one of the early setbacks the Eagles incurred – All-State sophomore shooting guard Cedric Jenkins broke his leg before the season, creating questions of how the team would cope without him.

So far, his teammates have filled the void.

“I was a little apprehensive to start the year,” Byrd said. “I didn’t know how the team would respond. I’m pleasantly surprised that we’re ahead of where we thought we’d be.”