The Penney High School potent tandem of senior Jaran Richman and junior LaTroy Harper scored over half of the Hornets points on Thursday night, in a 50-45 victory over the Trenton Bulldogs that sends PHS into a Lawson Tournament championship showdown with the host Cardinals on Saturday night.
Offensively, both teams started lightning quick, with the Hornets outscoring the Bulldogs in a high-octane first quarter, 30-22. The pace, both in scoring numbers and the game itself, slowed from there, with Hamilton able to hold onto its advantage in a second half that saw only 21 points combined scored by both teams (11-10 Hamilton advantage).
The first half was very much a scoring duel between senior guards, as Richman scored all 13 of his points in the half for Hamilton, while Trenton’s Corbyn Guile scored all 19 of his points in the first half for Trenton. The Bulldogs took a three point lead late in the second quarter, only to have Harper, who finished with 13 points, put up a quick five points to give the #2 seed a 39-35 halftime advantage.
Trenton senior center Connor Cotton finished with 15 points. Cale Whitt had eight points for Hamilton, with Wesley Pratt contributing five.
The win sends the Hornets to Saturday night’s title game (8:00) opposite Lawson. The Cardinals stamped their ticket to the final with a 44-32 semifinal win over Richmond, as Cody Glenn had 13 points for the Cardinals. Noah Thornberry paced the Spartans with 13.
In the boys consolation final, Gallatin will battle Carrollton on Friday night at 6:30. The Trenton boys play Richmond in Saturday’s (5:00) third place game from the Lawson High School gymnasium.
