Lady Trojans named Wilson County Classic champions
The Lady Trojans display their first place trophy after defeating Cherryvale in the Wilson County Classic championship game Saturday, Jan. 20. PHOTO COURTESY OF JOYCE KOVACIC
By Camden McFarland
camden@hometowngirard.com
The Girard Trojans’ girls basketball team improved their record on the season to 7-3 after an impressive performance in the annual Wilson County Classic tournament that began Thursday, Jan. 18.
On Thursday, the Lady Trojans started off the tournament against Fredonia.
Girard established their eagerness to take the victory right from the start by scoring 12 points in the first quarter and only allowing Fredonia to score four.
Fredonia began to wake up in the second quarter and scored 14 points, but the Lady Trojans stepped their game up too and scored an additional 20 points.
After halftime, Fredonia came out much more aggressive and outscored Girard 18-14 in the third quarter, but the Lady Trojans still held the 46-36 lead.
Girard solidified the victory in the fourth quarter by scoring 10 and allowing seven, which moved the final score to 56-43 and advanced them to the semifinals against Bluestem.
Sydnee Crain led the team in scoring against Fredonia with 24 points.
On Friday, the Lady Trojans were confronted with slightly more competition from Bluestem, but this did not sway their attitudes.
Again, Girard wasted no time establishing a lead by scoring 19 points in the first quarter, while holding Bluestem to 11.
Bluestem could not keep up with the Lady Trojans’ speed in the second quarter and could only score nine points, while Girard added 25 to the scoreboard.
In the third quarter, Bluestem brought themselves back into the game by scoring 20 points, but Girard’s 10 points kept them ahead with a score of 54-40.
Neither team let up in the fourth quarter, though, as the Lady Trojans fought on offense to score 22 points and Bluestem made a valiant effort with 18 points.
With a final score of 76-58, Girard earned their second victory of the tournament and moved themselves to the championship game against Cherryvale.
Crain led the Lady Trojans’ offense again, scoring 34 points this time.
In the championship game on Saturday, Girard carried over their determined mindsets from the prior two victories and gave Cherryvale their best performance yet.
Although in the first quarter Cherryvale outscored Girard 13-11, the Lady Trojans fired back in the second quarter to take the lead with a score of 24-18.
Girard amped up their aggressiveness even more in the third quarter and scored 16 additional points while only allowing Cherryvale to score three.
Girard’s Sydnee Crain earns herself a layup during the Wilson County Classic championship game. PHOTO COURTESY OF RON GATES
It was more of the same during the fourth quarter, as the Lady Trojans added another 20 points to their score and allowed Cherryvale to score only 13.
With a final score of 60-34, the Lady Trojans won the Wilson County Classic for the third consecutive year.
Again, Crain led Girard’s offense by scoring 27 points, but this game was unique. During the second quarter, Crain scored her way past the mark of 1,000 total career points.
At the end of the tournament, players from each team were honored for the All Academic Team and All Tournament Team.
For the All Academic Team, Girard’s Gabbi Sands and Jordanne Ferguson received honors.
For the All Tournament Team, Girard’s Crain, Jacey Murphy and Jaada Valley received honors.
The Lady Trojans’ will be hosting their next matchup against the Baxter Lions Tuesday, Jan. 23.