As the Trenton Lady Bulldog program has surged up the Class 3 charts over the last 2 1/2 years, Coach Brian Upton has preached defensive intensity, communication, and results as the backbone of the THS success. Now, with the 2017-2018 season underway, while defense remains the top focus of the Lady Bulldogs, the offensive firepower from a group of now-experienced girls is getting more notice.
The latest case in point came in the Trenton home opener on Tuesday night, as heard on Hot Country Z 101.7, the Lady Bulldog junior back-court of Ainsley Tolson and Mykah Hurley combined for eight three-pointers (four each) and 37 points, leading the #2 ranked team in the state to a 71-43 win over the Marceline Lady Tigers.
While Tolson and Hurley filled the nets, and routinely scrambled the Marceline offense with their pressure brand of defense, freshman forward Maci Moore was the beneficiary of a number of fine entry passes by her teammates, scoring 17 points. Trenton was strong from the free-throw line, hitting 11 of 12 shots, including 7 of 8 from junior sharp-shooter Salem Croy.
Trenton opened the game on a 10-0 run, with defense fueling offense in a dazzling display of basketball from the now 5-0 Lady Bulldogs. Tom Johnson had the early highlights on Hot Country Z 101.7:
Lady Bulldog Coach Brian Upton shared his thoughts about Trenton’s fifth win of the season:
Marceline hit four three-point shots to stay close in the first half (down 35-20 at the break), but Trenton’s Tolson put the nail in the Tigers coffin late, with four three-pointers in the second half, part of a game-high 23 point effort by the returning junior Class 3 all-stater. Hurley added three made 3-pointers in the second-half, part of a 14 point night for the junior.
Marceline, falling to 2-2 on the season, was paced by junior forward Maycee Edgar with 10 points. The Lady Tigers now prepare for a visit by Monroe City on Thursday, December 14th, with Trenton hosting Chillicothe in a highly-anticipated girls game, Thursday night at 6 o’clock, with coverage on KTTN FM 92.3:
The Trenton girls, after Chillicothe, will jump into Grand River Conference play, hosting Princeton on Tuesday, December 12th, and traveling to South Harrison on Friday, December 15th.
