Trojans dismantle Rams
By: Aaron Pyle
Following a 54-48 loss to Columbus, Feb. 11, the Lady Trojans stayed home at Ted R. Taylor Gymnasium for the next matchup Friday, Feb. 14 where Girard faced the Riverton Rams. The last time the two teams met, Jan. 14, Girard defeated the Lady Rams 51-38 led by sophomore Faith Poland’s 16 points.
Opening the matchup, the two teams battled to find a rhythm offensively as neither side was able to execute due to turnovers. In the latter half of the quarter, the two sides found their groove offensively pounding the ball in the paint. Poland would help Girard maintain the lead with two three’s in the first.
In the second, transition baskets off turnovers helped the Lady Trojans further their lead as Riverton struggled to get anything going offensively. The Lady Trojans were able to draw fouls throughout the second quarter getting to the line and executing on their free throws. Midway through, the Lady Trojans lead would reach double-digits and continuously grow from there. At halftime, Girard led Riverton 31-14.
The Lady Trojans in the third quarter exploded offensively going on an 18-0 run as their lead started to become too much for a Lady Rams comeback. Near the end of the third quarter, the lead reached 30+ which then ensued a running clock. From there, Girard (10-6) went on to defeat Riverton (1-17) 63-25.
Poland led all scorers for Girard finishing the night with a season-high 19 points. Junior Makaila Ausemus would make a major contribution in the victory as well scoring 12 points for the Lady Trojans Friday night.
Onto the boys, the team comes off a tough 56-47 loss to the Columbus Titans, Feb. 11. Junior Rigby Born led the Trojans in scoring during the contest with 16 points. After the loss, the Trojans stayed home for a highly touted rematch against the Riverton Rams. The last time the two teams met, Jan. 14, the game resulted in three overtimes with the Rams prevailing 71-69.
Girard began the first quarter firing on all cylinders going on a 7-0 run credited to the Trojans’ attack inside the paint. Offensive production slowed in the second half of the quarter as the Rams fought their way back into it going on their own 7-0 run to tie the game back up before the second quarter.
Neither team would score a basket in the first two minutes of the second quarter as defense reigned supreme in the league showdown. Girard would go on a 5-0 run near the end of the quarter to take a 16-10 lead at halftime in a low-scoring affair.
Much like the first half, the two teams struggled to get anything going in the first part of the quarter. With baskets coming at a premium, the two teams battled for any kind of edge offensively headed into the final quarter.
In the final quarter, Girard pushed the lead further with the Trojans’ aggressive attack inside the paint. Ball movement and transition opportunities became essential to Girard’s success in the first half of the fourth as the Trojan lead reached up to ten with 4:30 remaining. The full-court pressure of the Rams soon became troublesome for the Trojans offense as the defense of Riverton forced turnovers which then cut the deficit.
With one minute on the clock, the Rams then sank a three-point basket to cut the Trojans lead to just one point following a 10-0 run from Riverton. Rigby Born was then fouled on the following possession making one of his two attempts at the line to go up 37-35. Following the make, the Rams were then fouled on an attempted three-point shot sending Riverton to the line to potentially tie the game back up with three seconds remaining. Riverton would make one of the three free throws with junior Logan Thomas snatching the rebound to then be fouled. Making one of his two free throws, Thomas then sealed the game as the full-court attempt to tie the game was then missed. Girard (7-9) went on to win 38-36 over Riverton (9-7).
Thomas led all scorers for Girard as the junior finished the game with a season-high 15 points. R. Born also ended the game in double-digit scoring ending his night with 12 points in the victory over Riverton.
Following the Trojans’ sweep, the teams will travel to Frontenac for the next matchup Tuesday, Feb. 18 in a rematch against the Raiders who swept Girard in the previous meeting.