The Trojans jump to 13-0 lead to open the game and never trail as DaMetrius Upchurch post 22 points and 11 rebounds in the 82-52 GNRC home win. Upchurch scores 18 in the first half on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor and the Trojans out-rebound SSS 16-6 in the period. The Trojans hit 55% from the field in the each half, blowing open the game with a huge 31-8 third period. Albert Smith adds 15 and Cordero Hunter 14. Garner owned a 29-14 advantage on the boards for the evening and force 23 Spartan turnovers.
The Trojans hot start is fueled by pressure backcourt defense and dominance on the boards. Carl Redd hits two lay-ups off Josh Brooks rebounds and Smith nails a jumper. Redd feeds Upchurch on the break and the Spartans are quickly down 11-0. After an Upchurch block, he runs the floor and hits to make it 13-0 and SSS burns its second timeout in a minute. Jamal Barrett and Emanuel McClain keep the pressure on the Spartan backcourt, forcing repeated turnovers (seven in the first quarter). They manage only six shots while Garner hits nine of 17 to go up 23-5 after one. The team are evenly matched in the second but Upchurch dominates the paint and Hunter pumps in two 3-pointers to maintain the 18 point lead at the half.
The third is all Garner, as the Trojans use a 20-6 run to stretch the lead to 62-30. McClain finishes with six steals, including three straight trips down the floor. Coach Gray is able to empty his bench at the halfway point of the final period, as the Trojans pick up their third conference win against one loss. The Trojans (5-5) are back home tomorrow night against undefeated Enloe, 7:30PM game time:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| SSS | 5 | 19 | 8 | 20 | - 52 |
| GAR | 23 | 19 | 31 | 9 | - 82 |
Lady Trojans fall to the Spartans
The Lady Trojans fall victim to 21 first half turnovers as SSS races to a 19-9 halftime lead and holds on for the 40-34 GNRC win. Jasmine Shaw leads the Trojans with 10. After narrowing the gap to just five after three periods, the Trojans fall victim to a nearly 4 minute scoring drought as SSS pulls away 33-20. Garner hits just 4 of 13 free throws to this point. But they make a final charge as Shaw nails a three and then hits on a twisting, driving layup to cut it to 33-28 with 1:31 to play. Despite Shaw accounting for 8 of the 16 points in the fourth, the Trojans drop their seventh game of the season and are 1-3 in the GNRC:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| SSS | 12 | 7 | 4 | 17 | - 40 |
| GAR | 5 | 4 | 9 | 16 | - 34 |
JV Girls roll to 8-0 with GNRC win at SSS
Garner wins 48-26 to remain unbeaten.
McClain, Leach lead JV boys past the Spartans
Josh McClain pumps in 16 points and adds 6 steals as the Trojans go to 7-2 on the season with the 55-43 win at SSS. Jamar Leach adds 13 for the Trojans, who travel to Enloe tomorrow night.
Thank you Trojan Club supporter:
