ASKEWVILLE – The return matchup didn’t go as well.

Earlier this season, Bethel Christian Academy used a stellar performance to defeat Calvary Baptist Church School and win the Eric Baggett Memorial Tournament.

Friday night, the teams met in a rematch, only this time it was for a win inside the conference. Calvary came away with the victory in the second outing, getting 30 points from Jeremy Cuthrell as they won 73-58.

Kyle Freeman paced Bethel’s offensive attack with 23 points while Shane Tripp (19 points) and Daniel Feher (10) also recorded double figures. E.J. Johnson had 22 to join Cuthrell in leading Calvary.

Bethel started the game with a three-pointer from Tripp as they led 3-0, but Calvary rolled off six unanswered to take a 6-3 edge. Cuthrell had four of those six.

Freeman, however, hit back-to-back buckets to help the home team surge ahead 7-6 before Cuthrell hit from behind the arc to push Calvary back in front. A Feher basked tied the score at 9-all.

Cuthrell hit 1-of-2 from the line and then Johnson scored to make it 12-9, but Bethel came right back with a hoop from Feher and a free throw from Freeman as they tied the score at a dozen each.

Cuthrell had the final hoop for Calvary with seconds remaining in the first quarter, but Tripp completed a three-point play to give Bethel at 15-14 edge after one period of play.

Tripp did the same to open the second quarter and Bethel claimed an 18-14 advantage, but Johnson rolled off five unanswered points to give Calvary the lead 19-18.

Tripp then started a 6-0 run for Bethel. He was joined by Freeman and Feher on the spurt as the home team surged ahead 24-19.

Calvary again came right back with hoops from Johnson and Sam Rockwell to close within one (24-23).

A three-point play by Freeman helped Bethel push ahead by four, but Cuthrell answered on the other end.

Tripp and Freeman hit consecutive baskets as they gave the home team a 31-25 edge late in the period.

Calvary, however, rolled off seven unanswered thanks to a pair of hoops by Johnson and a triple from Matt Cuthrell as they took the lead back 32-31.

Marky Palmer then scored for Bethel as he gave the home team the lead, but a J. Cuthrell three-pointer just before the half sent Calvary into the locker room with a 35-33 edge.

Feher tied the contest with the first hoop of the second period, but Calvary scored the next six straight to take a 41-35 edge.

Freeman stopped the spurt with a hoop, but the visitors responded with a trio of three-pointers in a row – two from Bryan Rice and one from Johnson. Cuthrell then scored again to make it 52-37 with 2:01 to play in the third quarter.

Bethel outscored Calvary 6-4 over the final two minutes of the period, but entered the fourth quarter trailing 56-43.

Calvary kept the pressure on by scoring four straight to open the fourth quarter and led 60-43 with just 7:12 to play.

Bethel then went on an 8-3 spurt thanks to four points from Freeman, two from Tripp and a pair from Kevin Johnson as they closed the gap to 63-51.

Cuthrell, however, hit back-to-back shots to quell the comeback effort.

Adam Fairless added a late bucket for the Eagles and Freeman and Tripp each scored again, but it wasn’t enough as Calvary claimed the victory.

The loss dropped Bethel to 9-4 overall this season and 0-1 in the league. They will take off the Christmas break before travelling to Ahoskie Christian School on January 4.