Tolson Matches Career High, Trenton Girls Roll

Ainsley Tolson was supposed to be a great basketball player. All the signs were clearly visible when she burst onto the scene as a freshman just two years ago.
But even Tolson’s biggest advocates were caught a little off guard when she went for a career-high 29 points in just the fifth game of her high school career. On a December night in Bethany, however, Tolson did just that, leading Trenton past South Harrison.
At the Lawson Tournament on Tuesday night, Tolson – now a junior – matched that career mark, scoring 29 again as top-seeded Trenton rolled past an overmatched, eighth-seeded Carrollton squad, 68-17.
Tolson’s 29-point game as a freshman came out of necessity. The Bulldogs trailed by eight in that game in the third quarter with then-leading scorer Whitley Richman headed to the bench after picking up her fourth foul. A four-point play by the freshman guard spurred a 16-0 run that ultimately was too much for South Harrison to overcome.
The 29-point effort on Tuesday night came mainly as a result of Trenton having limited options. Sidney Lynch was out after injuring her ankle in practice – an injury that will likely sideline the forward for at least a week. Mykah Hurley, meanwhile, played a limited role due to illness.
The game itself was never in doubt. Trenton scored more points in the first quarter – 20 – than Carrollton would score in the entire game. By halftime, Trenton held a monstrous 43-6 advantage. The score was 58-8 after three quarters and Trenton coasted to the finish with mostly junior varsity players playing in the fourth quarter, winning by 51 points.
Tolson complimented her 29 points with three assists and four steals. The point total pushed her career mark to 960, 40 away from 1,000.
Behind Tolson, Salem Croy scored 13 points, pulled down six rebounds and swiped three steals. Lexi Whitaker had eight points and Maci Moore and Hurley each scored six. Hurley added three steals and two assists and Moore had five rebounds and four steals. Trenton would also get four points, five steals and four assists from Ashten Whitaker and two points from Saedee Jackson.
“We played well,” Trenton Head Coach Brian Upton said. “We played great team ball and good defense. Ainsley was really good and Salem shot great as well. Both were very efficient scorers. Maci and Lexi came in as spot starters and played well. Everyone got playing time and everyone contributed to our win.”
With the win, Trenton improved to 12-1 overall on the season.
UP NEXT
Trenton will face North Platte in the semifinals on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Panthers are the tournament’s fourth-seeded team.
“Thursday’s match-up with North Platte is a good test,” Upton said. “They typically play a trapping three-quarter to half-court defense. They have good size with three girls 5-10 and up and three good scorers. We will have to play well to be successful.”