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DaMetrius Upchurch scores 19, with 10 rebounds and Albert Smith adds 18 on outstanding 7-for-8 shooting and the Trojans blast Knightdale 71-60 at Trojan Gym. The much anticipated showdown of 8-1 teams has the Trojan defense forcing 21 Knightdale turnovers. The Trojans are 9-1 in the conference and drop the Knights into a tie for second with Clayton at 8-2. The remarkably close first half has both teams shooting well, Garner 57% (16-of-28 shots) and Knightdale 52% (16-of-31) en route to a 39-35 Trojan lead at the break. The Trojan defense does come up with 6 blocked shots in the period as Upchurch avoids the early foul trouble that plagued him Tuesday at Clayton. Smith is red hot, nailing all 5 of his first half shots for 12 points. Garner gathers a 14-9 rebounding margin and both teams commit just six turnovers.
The second half starts with Garner scoring 7 straight to open a 46-35 lead. After Josh Gorham's steal and three-point play, Smith and Cordero Hunter nail jumpers to provide Garner breathing room they enjoy most of the remainder of the game. Despite an uncharacteristic poor free throw shooting night, Upchurch is able to control the paint to post his 14th "double-double" of the season and keep the margin comfortable until Tyler Nicholson and Cam Mealy hit back-to-back threes to cut the Garner lead to 66-60 with 52.9 seconds to go. But the Knights would get no closer as Smith ices the game with two from the line and Hunter picks off the Trojans 9th steal of the evening and scores for the final 71-60 margin. Garner finishes the game shooting 61% while the Knights manage 44%, with 22 turnovers and Garner enjoys a 25-17 rebound margin. The Trojans travel to SSS Tuesday night looking for Coach Gray's 312th career win:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| KNI | 19 | 16 | 12 | 13 | - 61 |
| GAR | 21 | 18 | 17 | 15 | - 70 |
Knightdale defeats the Lady Trojans
The Lady Trojans suffer through 33 turnover to fall 40-35 to the Knights. Garner manages to cut into a nine point Knight lead after three quarters to 35-34 on Vearnessa Brown's lay-up with just 2 minutes to go. But Garner fails to convert in the closing minute as Knightdale holds them off, for their third win of the year. Garner drops to 4-12 for the season:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| KNI | 9 | 9 | 14 | 8 | - 40 |
| GAR | 6 | 8 | 9 | 12 | - 35 |
The Trojans recognized a moment of silence in honor of NCSU Coach Kay Yow, who lost her battle with cancer this week. We send our sincere condolences to the Yow family for their loss.........
The Trojan Sports Network was happy to welcome Garner Town Manager Hardin Watkins and senior cheerleader Jena Valentine who shared her "green initiative" for GMHS community service project as our halftime guests.
Thank you Trojan Club supporter:
