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Trojans are welcomed back after holidays with losses
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| Trojan Chad Allen (10) dodges Stafford defenders as he goes in for two points. The Trojans lost 68-62. |
By WAYNE RHYMES
Following the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, the Trojans Boys Basketball Team showed up sluggish with players missing to the Gulf Coast Classic Tournament.
Coach Dennis Isbell gave it all as he still prepared his team to compete in one of the toughest tournaments of the year. But the boys couldn’t get past the first two games. The Trojans lost to Goose Creek Memorial 56-51 and then to Dekaney 52-38.
This wasn’t how Coach Isbell wanted to finish the tournament especially going into their next game, which was at home against powerhouse Stafford, a team that is ranked seventh in the state.
Coach Eric Jackson of the Stafford Spartans said, “Every team we face will be a battle for us because of our rankings. Everybody wants to beat us.”
The Trojans definitely had this tone stepping onto the court last Friday as they put the tournament behind them. Although Coach Isbell had to make pre-game decisions about disciplinary action for the players who missed the Gulf Coast Classic Tournament, the players remained focused at their task at hand, which was to knock off the Spartans. It was enough to triumph over the Stafford team and they lost in a close game, 68-62.
The Trojans and Spartans were both aggressive, fast with great athletic ability. For two teams to have these characteristics, the first quarter was a drag as both teams couldn’t find the rim offensively until after the four-minute mark when things began to heat up.
The first quarter ended with the Trojans on top 15-12 and as the second quarter began the Trojans continued to keep the momentum as the Spartans struggled from the outside. The Stafford team, however, remained close by getting garbage points with second chance shots. The Spartans took the lead behind the shooting of Jordan Honore who was blazing three-pointers.
The Trojans responded with the playing of guard Chad Allen who was unstoppable all night. The Trojans had help from Cody Lane who played huge keeping the Trojans within striking distance.
As both teams closed out the half, it was the Spartans’ Honore who provided the extra lift as he hit a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded giving them the slight edge 32-28.
The second half kept fans glued to the floor as both teams picked up where they left off, scoring and making great plays. The third quarter continued back and forth with neither team being able to keep the lead for longer than a possession.
The Trojans got a spark from Ashton Perry with seconds remaining in the third as he got a steal and a basket, tying the game going into the final quarter.
The final quarter saw lead changes but the difference was Trojan Allen who made huge baskets down the stretch along with great plays that seemed to be enough to clinch the win. But the Spartans’ Honore hit another three-pointer and got fouled with seconds remaining. He made the foul shot and gave the Spartans a four-point lead.
This loss made the Trojans 6-9 in their record.
Coach Isbell said after the game, “I was really proud we competed because in the tournament we didn’t. But we made some mistakes in the stretch of this game which you cannot do against a good team.”
The Trojans played rival Shepherd Tuesday and will play Tarkington Friday. The results will be in next week’s paper.
Coach Dennis Isbell gave it all as he still prepared his team to compete in one of the toughest tournaments of the year. But the boys couldn’t get past the first two games. The Trojans lost to Goose Creek Memorial 56-51 and then to Dekaney 52-38.
This wasn’t how Coach Isbell wanted to finish the tournament especially going into their next game, which was at home against powerhouse Stafford, a team that is ranked seventh in the state.
Coach Eric Jackson of the Stafford Spartans said, “Every team we face will be a battle for us because of our rankings. Everybody wants to beat us.”
The Trojans definitely had this tone stepping onto the court last Friday as they put the tournament behind them. Although Coach Isbell had to make pre-game decisions about disciplinary action for the players who missed the Gulf Coast Classic Tournament, the players remained focused at their task at hand, which was to knock off the Spartans. It was enough to triumph over the Stafford team and they lost in a close game, 68-62.
The Trojans and Spartans were both aggressive, fast with great athletic ability. For two teams to have these characteristics, the first quarter was a drag as both teams couldn’t find the rim offensively until after the four-minute mark when things began to heat up.
The first quarter ended with the Trojans on top 15-12 and as the second quarter began the Trojans continued to keep the momentum as the Spartans struggled from the outside. The Stafford team, however, remained close by getting garbage points with second chance shots. The Spartans took the lead behind the shooting of Jordan Honore who was blazing three-pointers.
The Trojans responded with the playing of guard Chad Allen who was unstoppable all night. The Trojans had help from Cody Lane who played huge keeping the Trojans within striking distance.
As both teams closed out the half, it was the Spartans’ Honore who provided the extra lift as he hit a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded giving them the slight edge 32-28.
The second half kept fans glued to the floor as both teams picked up where they left off, scoring and making great plays. The third quarter continued back and forth with neither team being able to keep the lead for longer than a possession.
The Trojans got a spark from Ashton Perry with seconds remaining in the third as he got a steal and a basket, tying the game going into the final quarter.
The final quarter saw lead changes but the difference was Trojan Allen who made huge baskets down the stretch along with great plays that seemed to be enough to clinch the win. But the Spartans’ Honore hit another three-pointer and got fouled with seconds remaining. He made the foul shot and gave the Spartans a four-point lead.
This loss made the Trojans 6-9 in their record.
Coach Isbell said after the game, “I was really proud we competed because in the tournament we didn’t. But we made some mistakes in the stretch of this game which you cannot do against a good team.”
The Trojans played rival Shepherd Tuesday and will play Tarkington Friday. The results will be in next week’s paper.
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