NICE TRY

Gallatin Gives Trenton A Challenge, But It Too Falls By The Wayside

There aren’t many teams that can hang with the Trenton girls high school basketball team – especially in the Grand River Conference. But of all the challengers who resign to defeat at the hands of Trenton there has been one school who has been defiant in the face of the GRC’s bully.
That has been Gallatin.
On Tuesday night, Gallatin again gave Trenton its best shot, but again the result was the same as the Bulldogs picked up a 58-43 victory in a game that was closer than the final score would indicate.
“Typical Gallatin versus Trenton game,” Trenton Head Coach Brian Upton said. “It was hard-fought. Neither team backed down.”
There were moments when it appeared Trenton’s superiority was poised to turn the game into a rout. But Gallatin continually fought to keep itself in the game. Trenton led by 13 points at halftime, but Gallatin closed to within 10 points in the third quarter, keeping the outcome from being completely predictable entering the fourth quarter.
As was the case in the Gallatin Tournament championship a month ago, Trenton made a close game look like a handy victory with a strong fourth quarter. Offensively, the Bulldogs were as efficient as they have been all season. Trenton hit 51 percent from the floor and was 50 percent from beyond the three-point line. In addition, the Bulldogs collected 16 assists on their 22 made baskets and pulled down nine offensive rebounds.
The offensive prowess was too much for Gallatin to overcome, despite playing very well in its own right.
“Defensively, we got worked a little inside,” Upton said. “Give (Gallatin) credit, they hit some tough shots.”
Trenton was paced by Ainsley Tolson and Salem Croy, both of whom scored 15 points in the win. Croy netted 10 of her points in the first quarter alone and Tolson added four assists and three steals to her total. Behind that duo, Trenton got 13 points from Maci Moore and 10 points, six assists and six steals from Mykah Hurley.
Lexi Whitaker had three points and Ashten Whitaker scored two to round out Trenton’s total. Sidney Lynch didn’t score, but gave the Bulldogs nine rebounds and four assists.
“We had four players in double figures, which speaks to the balance of this team and the number of offensive weapons we have,” Upton said. “I thought Sid played great. She didn’t see a lot of shot attempts, but she controlled the glass, played excellent defense and handed out four assists. We aren’t the team we are without her unselfish play.”
With the win, the record moved to 9-0 overall. Trenton is now 3-0 in the Grand River Conference and, with Gallatin’s loss to the Bulldogs and a 57-41 win by Princeton over the Milan girls, is the last remaining undefeated team in the league, standing alone in first place of the conference’s East Division.
UP NEXT
Trenton will go out of league play in its final game before the holiday break, taking on another undefeated team in St. Joseph Benton on Friday in North Central Missouri College’s Holiday Hoops at the Ketcham Community Center. At 9-0, Trenton is ranked second in the Class 3 MBCA poll. Benton, 6-0, is ranked seventh in the Class 4 MBCA poll. Tipoff between the Bulldogs and Cardinals is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday night in Trenton.

GRC EAST GIRLS STANDINGS
Team GRC Overall
Trenton 3-0 9-0
Gallatin 2-1 8-2
Milan 2-1 5-4
Polo 2-1 5-4
Princeton 1-2 5-4
Maysville 1-2 3-6
Putnam County 1-2 2-8
South Harrison 0-3 1-7