Mark White
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![JP Payne Appointed as New Varsity Boys Basketball Coach]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1591365397/gcaramsorg/ydxjcnwf3bvwgzckywbm/News_JPPayneBasketballCoach.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1591365397/gcaramsorg/ydxjcnwf3bvwgzckywbm/News_JPPayneBasketballCoach.png","width":450}])
The GCA Executive Team with support from the GCA School Board is excited to announce the appointment of JP Payne to the new role of Varsity Boys Basketball Coach and Upper School Dean of Students. Mr. Payne's professionalism, coaching experience, and passion for discipleship made him the right choice for this role.
We're excited to see his leadership as he develops the GCA Boys Basketball program and invests in the lives of our students!
Since joining the Grace Christian Academy faculty, Payne has worked as an 8th grade math teacher, middle school basketball coach, and assistant varsity football coach in addition to his four years prior coaching experience.
A graduate of the University of the Cumberlands, Payne holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in Business and Marketing. He was a student athlete during his collegiate experience who played football for one season and basketball four seasons.
Payne’s coaching experience includes his former role as assistant basketball coach at Williamsburg High School in Kentucky for 4 seasons where the team made it to the KHSAA Sweet 16 in 2015. While on staff at Grace Christian Academy, Payne has served as Assistant Middle School Basketball coach (2017-2018), Head Middle School Boys Basketball coach (2018-2019), and Assistant High School Basketball coach (2019-2020). Payne has also been a part of the varsity football coaching staff as an assistant coach under the direction of Head Coach Rusty Bradley.
Coach Payne is excited to begin his tenure as Varsity Boys Basketball Coach at GCA and looking forward to the future. “I am invested and passionate about our program becoming the best it can be this year and in seasons to come. I look forward to coaching and developing our team at GCA into young men with a love for Christ and building better basketball players.” He is married to GCA graduate, Alysha Disney Payne, and the couple is expecting their first child later this year.
GCA Athletic Director, Shawn Mehegan, expressed his great confidence in the hire. “Coach Payne is the right man to lead our boys’ basketball program. His passion for the game, professionalism as an educator, and love for Christ fits our mission at GCA to LEAD, BUILD, and EQUIP the next generation of leaders.”
- Boys Varsity Basketball
![GCA Senior, BJ Marable, Named to 2020 TSWA All-State Basketball Team]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1587568081/gcaramsorg/pkevkujcfelp8x7a7bti/BJMarableAllState_News.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1587568081/gcaramsorg/pkevkujcfelp8x7a7bti/BJMarableAllState_News.png","width":450}])
Congratulations to GCA senior and varsity basketball player, BJ Marable! He was just named to the 2020 Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State Team for Division II-A.
BJ was an integral part of the GCA Rams Basketball program during his high school career and will go on to further his academic and athletic career at UNC Asheville, where he plans to major in engineering.
Congratulations, BJ, on this well deserved recognition!
- Boys Varsity Basketball
![GCA Senior Named to All-PrepXtra boys basketball team for 2020]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1585852213/gcaramsorg/bwkhcbog9lsrdyeg9v37/BJMarable_NewsPost1.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1585852213/gcaramsorg/bwkhcbog9lsrdyeg9v37/BJMarable_NewsPost1.png","width":450}])
Congratulations to BJ Marable, who was named to the All-PrepXtra Boys Basketball Second Team for 2020! This noteworthy award follows another strong season for BJ as a key player for the Rams.
BJ will continue his academic and athletic career at UNC playing basketball after graduation He plans to major in engineeering.
Congratulations, BJ! We're so proud of you!
- Boys Varsity Basketball
![GCA Sr. Jalen Geer drives to the basket]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1582552062/gcaramsorg/nef7d17y0kzopj30jxcf/SYD_7524.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1582552062/gcaramsorg/nef7d17y0kzopj30jxcf/SYD_7524.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1582552062/gcaramsorg/nef7d17y0kzopj30jxcf/SYD_7524.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1582552062/gcaramsorg/nef7d17y0kzopj30jxcf/SYD_7524.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1582552062/gcaramsorg/nef7d17y0kzopj30jxcf/SYD_7524.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1582552062/gcaramsorg/nef7d17y0kzopj30jxcf/SYD_7524.jpg","width":2200}])
The Rams advanced to the region championship game but came up short against Webb.
The Rams fell to Webb 43-71 in the region title game on Friday night. Senior Jalen Geer led the Rams with 23 points while senior BJ Marable pulled down 7 rebounds.
Despite the loss, the Rams advance to the Elite 8 round of the state tournament and will play their next game at home on Saturday, February 29.
- Boys Varsity Basketball
![GCA Rams after winning region semi-final game]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1582311531/gcaramsorg/wtisifrrbuxmpmesgcdt/Regionsemis.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1582311531/gcaramsorg/wtisifrrbuxmpmesgcdt/Regionsemis.jpg","width":464}])
The Rams won and have advanced to the championship game of the region tournament.
Congratuations to the Rams on a 58-48 victory over Boyd Buchanan on Thursday evening. This win earned them a ticket to the region championship game tonight (Friday 2/21) at 8:30 versus Webb at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga.
In the semifinal game, the Rams were led by senior BJ Marable with 21 points and 8 rebounds. Junior Cooper Riggs dished out 4 assists.
- Boys Varsity Basketball
