With fellow high-scoring juniors Salem Croy and Mykah Hurley slowed by illness on Tuesday night, the scoring load for the second-ranked Class 3 team in the state shifted to fellow junior Ainsley Tolson, who responded with a 27 point night, including 20 in the second half, as the Trenton Lady Bulldogs beat the Princeton Lady Tigers 56-23.
In action heard on KTTN FM 92.3, Trenton jumped out quickly on the visitors from PHS, leading 12-5 after one quarter, and pushing the lead to 17 midway through the second quarter. However, Princeton finished the half on a 9-2 run, with self-inflicted wounds from turnovers hurting Trenton’s momentum. Here is victorious Head Coach Brian Upton:
Princeton stayed within that 10 point deficit for the first couple of third quarter minutes, but Tolson used her shooting and driving ability to take over the game from there, with 8 two-point baskets, a free throw, and a three-point shot in the second half. Sidney Lynch had 10 points in the victory for Trenton, with Mykah Hurley, battling a sore throat throughout the game, adding seven. Trenton is 7-0 overall, and 1-0 in the Grand River Conference, following the win.
Princeton, now 4-3 overall and 0-1 in the GRC, had 11 points from junior forward Jaelyn Thomas. Sophomore forward Payton Goodin was in early foul trouble, and was held to five points by Trenton’s stout defense.
The Trenton boys, behind a career-high 17 points from senior Kade Ockenfels, won a spirited affair with the rival Tigers, 64-61. The lead see-sawed back and forth throughout an intense fourth quarter, with the key factor leaning the Bulldogs way being at the free throw line. In the fourth quarter, Trenton went to the line 21 times, making 13, with Princeton going 7 of 8 from the stripe over the final eight minutes.
Trenton jumped out to a 20-11 lead after the first quarter, shooting the ball with great efficiency, as Lathan Croy had five early points, with Dylan Harris and Carson Radcliff hitting three point shots each. Croy finished with 14 points for THS, while Dylan Harris added 12.
Here is Trenton Head Coach Jeremy Austin:
Princeton, falling to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the Grand River Conference, had a game-high 22 points from Blaine Millburn, with Andrew Smith scoring 15. Preston Thomas, who fouled out, along with Millburn, late in the fourth quarter, had 12 points. Trenton, with the win, improves to 4-3 overall, and 1-0 in the GRC.
On Friday night, Princeton will host Gallatin in doubleheader action on Hot Country Z 101.7, with Trenton at South Harrison in a girls/boys doubleheader on KTTN FM 92.3.
