Battle Spartans defeat Helias Crusaders 65-57 in CMAC matchup

Battle improves to 5-0 in conference play, while Helias drops to 2-1

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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In a battle of the two remaining unbeaten teams in the Central Missouri Activities Conference, the Battle Spartans defeated the Helias Crusaders 65-57 on Friday night. Battle led for most of the game, using an 11-0 run in the first quarter to pull ahead. Helias fought back in the second half, briefly taking the lead in the third quarter, but Battle regained control in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.

Why it matters

This game was a key matchup in the CMAC standings, as Battle and Helias were the last two undefeated teams in conference play. The win puts Battle in a strong position to defend their CMAC title, while the loss drops Helias out of the unbeaten ranks.

The details

Battle led for nearly all of the first half, using an 11-0 run in the first quarter to pull ahead 20-12. Helias cut the deficit to 35-28 at halftime, and erased a nine-point deficit in the third quarter to briefly take the lead at 44-43. However, Battle regained the lead and held on in the fourth quarter, with Caden Lewis and Beau Blanton trading key baskets down the stretch.

  • The game was played on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • Battle improved to 5-0 in CMAC play, while Helias dropped to 2-1.

The players

Caden Lewis

Led Battle with a game-high 21 points and 8 rebounds.

Brandon Rooks

Scored 16 points for Battle.

Alex Wood

Led Helias with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds.

Beau Blanton

Scored 12 points for Helias.

Ross Buffington

Scored 11 points for Helias.

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What’s next

Battle will look to continue their unbeaten conference run when they play Hickman and Camdenton. Helias will try to bounce back when they play at Capital City on Tuesday.

The takeaway

This game showcased the competitiveness of the CMAC, as the top two undefeated teams battled it out. Battle's ability to regain control in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference, as they solidified their position atop the conference standings.