Gray Hits 400 Wins in Win over Central

 WEB CAST.

The casual observer watching Wednesday night's varsity boys basketball game between Garner and Harnett Central would have no idea this history that was made on what appeared to be an unassuming 69-42 Garner victory. However what transpired on this January evening was indeed historic as Trojan head coach Eddie Gray collected his 400th career victory in the same fashion as many of his previous 399 wins, with a team effort.

Garner (14-2, 8-0) began the contest rather sluggish take a four point, 10-6 lead four minutes into the game thanks to eight first quarter points from Sammy Saunders. But Harnett Central (6-10, 2-6) hung right with the Trojans trailing by just three (17-14) after the opening half.

But, in the second stanza, Garner looked like a completely different team outscoring Central 25-12 thanks to a huge period from Demarcus Sanford who scored all eight of his first half points in the second quarter to help give the visiting Trojans a 42-26 halftime lead.

Central had no answer for the quickness of the Trojans on offense and the defensive pressure that Garner exhibited forced even Gray to crack a smile as Garner placed three in double-figures and coasted past Harnett Central 69-42.

For Gray, his 400th win came almost two years to the day of his 350th victory a 44-42 win over Knightdale on January 28, 2011 and career win number 300 was achieved on November 18, 2008 against Middle Creek.

Garner will return to action on Friday night when they play the third game of the week, another road test at Smithfield-Selma with tip-off slated for 8:00.

Varsity Girls Fall in Heart breaker

Garner went into Harnett Central and pushed the number two team in the Greater Neuse River to the limit and then some before falling in double overtime, 43-41. 

The lady Trojans who trailed by just a single point (19-18) at halftime managed to hold a slim 31-30 lead with 4:01 to play in the fourth quarter only to see a lid placed on the bucket. 

After Central tied the game on a free throw late in the game, Kelsey Bryan nailed a wide open lay up to give the Lady Trojans a 33-31 lead with five second left. But, Central raced down the court with some smart passing and scored at the buzzer to force the overtime.

In the first overtime, Garner kept things close with the game never reaching more than a three point margin as the two team battled and remained tied to force the second free period. 

Harnett Central took a three point lead early in the second overtime and despite Garner cutting the lead to one point, the lady Trojans could not get over the hump and fell 43-41 in double overtime.

Garner will travel to Smithfield-Selma on Friday night for a 6:30 tip.

JV Sweeps

Both JV teams earned victories over Harnett Central on Wednesday night. The JV girls bounced back from a loss to East Wake on Tuesday and defeated Central 38-37 in overtime while the JV boys coasted past Central 51-27.

The JV girls travel to SSS on Friday for a 4:00 start while the JV boys will follow at 5:15.

Trojans Grind Past Warriors

WEB CAST. 

It was not pretty on Tuesday night inside Garner's Trojan Coliseum but in the end the speed of the Trojans was too much for East Wake, who was playing its second game in as many nights as the men of Troy moved past the Warriors, 74-53 to remain atop the Greater Neuse River Conference.

Garner (13-2, 7-0) led 14-9 after the first quarter and took a 33-23 lead into the halftime break as Sammy Saunders and Demarcus Sanford both scored in double-figures while Alex Cowen was a perfect eight of eight from the foul line to lead the Warriors (6-12, 4-5) in the opening 16 minutes.

The second half became a grind-it-out style of contest as East Wake cut the Garner lead down to single digits early in the third stanza before Saunders caught fire again to pour in eight points in the third quarter to finish with a game and career high 21 points to help spark a 12-4 run for the men of Troy to take a 52-41 lead into the final quarter.

Garner was able to put the game away in the fourth quarter as sophomore, Julius Barnes, scored eight of his 19 points (which ties a career high) in the final eight minutes of play as the Trojans captured their ninth straight win over East Wake, 74-53.

The Trojans will return to action on Wednesday night when they travel to Harnett Central for an 8:00 tip-off.

SCORING:
GARNER: Saunders 21, Barnes 19, Sanford 16, Mills 5, Henneghan 4, Dubar 4, Alston 3, Leach 2
EAST WAKE: Cowen 11, Siler 10, Jackson 9, Bartee 6, McLean 5, Lockett 5, Ammons 4, Cook 2, High 2.

Varsity Girls Fall

Garner couldn't get anything going on Tuesday night against East Wake as they fell to the Warriors 58-17.

The lady Trojans return to action tomorrow night at Harnett Central, tip-off is set for 6:30.

JV Splits

The two JV teams split their games, the with boys winning 54-44 and the girls falling 39-17. Both teams will be at Harnett Central tomorrow with the girls at 4:00 and the boys at 5:15.

Balanced Effort Sends Trojans Past Comets

WEB CAST. 

In the first battle of the two heavyweights in the Greater Neuse River Conference, it was the Garner Trojans behind a balanced attack of six players in double figures who got the best of the Clayton Comets, 88-83 on Wednesday night inside Garner's Trojan Coliseum.

As one might expect it was a back-and-fourth contest with each team holding  lead of no more than six points at any moment in the contest as Garner (12-2, 6-0) controlled the opening eight minutes with a 12-0 spurt to take a 25-23 lead into the second quarter. However, Clayton (15-2, 6-1) owned the second stanza outscoring Garner 18-14 to take a 41-39 lead into the halftime break.

Trailing by two points to start the second half, Garner went on a three point barrage knocking down four consecutive shots from Julius Barnes and Sammy Saunders to build 48-41 lead. But, as good teams do the Comets came storming back to pull to within one point at 59-58 with just over two minutes left in the quarter.

Garner would work the post in the final moments of the third quarter as Jasper Stallings got hot scoring six of his career high 10 points in the third and Saunders poured in eight of his career high 17 in the same period to lift the men of Troy to a 67-64 lead after three.

Clayton had an answer however building a four-point lead in the final quarter thanks to the play of Gary Clark who scored 15 of his game high 42 points in the final quarter including going 20-of-23 from the free throw line in the contest.

However, the Trojans were able to overcome Clark and the Comets attack thanks to clutch free throw shooting in the final two minutes to take control of first place in the Greater Neuse River with an 88-83 victory.

Garner and Clayton will face off for the second and final time in the regular season on Friday night at Jerry Smith Court. Tip-off is slated for 8:00.

POINTS: 
GARNER: Saunders 17, Barnes 15, Sanford 14, Dubar 12, Stallings 10, Henneghan 10, Mills 5, Alston 4
CLAYTON: Clark 42, Gaskins 16, Dixon 13, Bizzell 7, Armstead 7, Terry 1

Girls Fall to Comets

Garner had no answer for the inside play of Clayton on Wednesday night as the Lady Comets downed Garner 74-47.

The two teams return to action on Friday with they face off at Clayton High School in a 6:30 tip.

JV Sweeps

Both JV teams earned wins over Clayton on Wednesday night. The girls earning a 34-29 overtime win over the Comets while the boys claimed a 54-47 victory.

Garner is back in action on Friday night at Clayton with the girls playing at 4 and the boys at 5:15.

Free Throw Line helps Trojans Past Bulldogs

 WEB CAST.

Over the past couple of seasons, the free throw shooting for Garner has been the subject of much conversation. However, on Friday night it was the charity stripe that propelled the Trojans to a 66-58 victory over Southeast Raleigh inside Trojan Coliseum.

Southeast Raleigh (7-5, 4-2) began the contest with the hot hand and carried a 12-11 lead to the second quarter before the Trojans found its stride midway through the second stanza and took the first lead of the game on a three pointer from Sammy Saunders from the corner to make it 27-26 in favor of the home team.

That Garner (11-2, 5-0) advantage moved to four points at 31-27 at halftime, then, the free throw line became a factor in the second half.

Both squads spent considerable amounts of time at the free throw line for the majority of the second half, however it was the Trojans who made the most of its opportunities going 17 of 24 from the line for 71 percent while the Bulldogs shot just 63 percent from the line (28 of 44).

However, that wasn't the only key to victory for the men of Troy ans Demarcus Sanford bounced back in a big way on Friday night tying his career high with 28 points and helping the Trojans to a 66-58 victory.

Garner will break for exams and return to the court on Thursday night when they travel to Harnett Central for an 8:00 tip-off.

Varsity Girls Fall

Southeast Raleigh showed why they are ranked number two in the state on Friday night as they scored the first bucket of the game and never looked back as the Bulldogs downed Garner 70-10 at Trojan Coliseum.

Garner (0-11, 0-5) returns to action on Thursday night at Harnett Central, tip off is set for 6:30

JV Splits

Both JV teams suffered losses on Friday night to Southeast Raleigh with the girls falling 44-21 and the boys falling just short at 59-56.

Thursday night marks the return to action for both JV teams when they travel to Harnett Central. The ladies will tip at 4:00 followed by the boys at 5:15.

Trojans Blast Wildcats to Stay Perfect in Conference

WEB CAST. 
Garner imposed its will early and often on both ends of the floor Tuesday night as the men of Troy continued its march through the Greater Neuse River conference with a 77-36 victory over West Johnston.

The Trojans (10-2, 4-0) began the game on a big offensive spurt scoring 22 points to open the ballgame however, the story was not the Garner offense but the defense that the men of Troy displayed holding the Wildcats scoreless and took a 22-0 lead to the second quarter.

West Johnston (2-10, 0-4) missed the first nine shots it took in the contest but finally scored on Channing Joyner's lay up one minute and 20 seconds into the second quarter. However, the Trojan would build on the lead as Demarcus Sanford and Sammy Saunders both poured in seven opening half points to give the Trojans a 37-12 lead at the break.

In the second half it was more of the same as Kyreece Mills caught fire again scoring 10 of his 16 points after the break to tie his career high and give Garner a 57-24 lead after three.

The Trojans were able to get the entire roster into the game and the contest was punctuated rather emphatically when Skyler Strickland jammed and help lead Garner to the 77-36 route of the Wildcats.

Garner returns to action on Friday night at 8:00 when they welcome arch rival Southeast Raleigh to Trojan Coliseum.

Varsity Girls Fall

Coach Mays and the Lady Trojans dropped a heart breaker on Tuesday night, 35-29. Despite having a lead at the break, West Johnston came roaring back and nailed its free throws down the stretch and capitalized on Garner turnovers to take the lead and game from Garner.

The Lady Trojans are back at home on Friday night when they host Southeast Raleigh at 6:30.

JV Boys Win

The JV boys returned to action on Tuesday and had no trouble with West Johnston, downing the Wildcats 63-20. Garner hosts Southeast Raleigh at 5:15 on Friday night.

Balanced Effort Helps Garner Blast Knights

WEB CAST.

It was a career night for several Trojans on Friday night as Garner placed five players in double-figures and overcame a sluggish start to remain perfect in the Greater Neuse River Conference with an 86-50 victory over the Knightdale Knights at Trojan Coliseum.

Knightdale (9-4, 3-1) began the game on fire after a lay-off for 14 days taking an early 8-2 lead to open the game prompting Trojan head coach Eddie Gray to call a time out at the five minute mark of the opening quarter. Following the timeout, the men of Troy went on a 21-8 run to close the first quarter with a 21-8 lead.

Garner (9-2, 3-0) opened the second stanza on an 9-4 run led by Kyreece Mills who scored nine of his career high 16 points in the second quarter. Knightdale elected to call its first timeout of the game with 5:05 remaining the half and the Knights down by 10.

However, things did not get much better for the Knights as the Trojans closed the half leading 42-32.

The second half became more of the same as Sammy Saunders took over for Garner pouring in 10 of his 14 points in the third quarter, which ties a career high and helped Garner take a 62-42 lead going into the final period.

Knightdale had no answer for the Trojans as the men of Troy moved down low in the final period where John Alston went to work on the blocks scoring a career high 10 points while super sophomore Julius Barnes finished with 13 points and Jasper Stallings also scored in double figures as Garner bombarded Knightdale 86-50.

Garner returns to action on Tuesday night at 7:30 when they travel to West Johnston to battle the Wildcats.

Varsity Girls Fall

Garner could not overcome a sloppy first quarter as Knightdale doubled up the lady Trojans 63-40.

Garner (0-9, 0-3) returns to action on Tuesday night at West Johnston, the contest will tip-off at 6:00.

JV Earns Split 

The JV teams split with Knightdale on Friday night as the girls lost 32-26 while the boys earned a hard fought 56-40 win.

West Johnston does not field a JV girls basketball team therefore, the JV boys game on Tuesday night at West Johnston will begin at 4:30 from Benson.