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Carl Redd's free throws with 5.7 seconds seal the 73-70 conference win at Clayton. The Trojans grab a share of the lead in the GNRC at 8-1. An exciting game that saw Garner's first lead at 69-68 with just 2:12 to go. DaMetrius Upchurch and Cordero Hunter score 20 each and Albert Smith adds 10. Garner's defense forces eight steals and 17 Comet turnovers while committing just 9 turnovers themselves. Both teams show exceptional shooting touch, with Garner finishing 57% from the floor (26-for-45) and Clayton 61% (25-for 41) and both teams equal from the line at 17-for-22.
Clayton at times had leads of ten at two different points. Clayton grabs an early rebounding advantage, beating Garner on the boards 7-2 in the opening period but Garner ultimately erases that margin by game end 24-19. With Upchurch and Jamal Barrett finding foul trouble and out of the game for extended periods, Darius Hicks gives the Trojans quality minutes in the paint and Hunter's hot shooting (6-of-8 in the first half, 3-for4 from behind the arc), Garner trails just 39-34 at the half. Upchurch sits virtually the whole second period after picking up his second foul. He gets called for a quick whistle to open the second half and another with 2:37 to go in the third, forcing him to sit the remainder of the period. Barrett's ball-handling is lost with his fifth foul and Garner down seven, 66-59 with 5:13 to go in the game. The Trojans step it up with four steals down the stretch, two by Emanuel McClain and one each by Hunter and Redd. The win allows Garner (11-8) to sweep the season series and claim a share of the conference lead headed into a huge Friday showdown with Knightdale (10-6, 8-1 in GNRC):
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
GAR | 14 | 20 | 14 | 25 | - 73 |
CLY | 20 | 19 | 18 | 13 | - 70 |
Lady Trojans fall to the Comets 50-41
The Lady Trojans suffer through another poor shooting night, hitting just 1-of-11 in the first period and 33% for the game in the GNRC loss. Both teams have turnover issues in the aggressive, defensive contest but the Comets rely on the 18 to 9 free throws made advantage for the win. The Comets toe the charity strip 30 times compared to Garner who takes just 19 shots from the line. The Trojans (5-13) return home to face Knightdale Friday night at Garner:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
GAR | 2 | 14 | 13 | 12 | - 41 |
CLY | 9 | 14 | 12 | 15 | - 50 |
JV Trojans sweep the Comets at home
JV Lady Trojans stay undefeated with 61-40 win, to go to 14-0 . Coach Bloms and the boys team win 57-51 over Clayton behind Jordan Brooks 15 pts and Gavin Wilson adds 10 pts. The JV teams travel to Knightdale Thursday night for the GNRC games.
The Trojan Sports Network sends its appreciation to Clayton Coach Marlon Lee and AD Gary Fowler for their assistance with our set-up tonight.
Thank you Trojan Club supporter: