Trenton High School junior guard Ainsley Tolson scored 26 points on Saturday night, willing the Lady Bulldogs to a 60-44 win over Penney, in the championship game of the Lawson Invitational Tournament. The win pushes the 2nd-ranked (MBCA Class 3) Lady Bulldogs to 14-1 on the season, dropping the fast-improving Lady Hornets to 10-3.
Salem Croy had 14 points and Trenton sophomore Lexi Whitaker, in perhaps the best game of her young career, added 10 for Trenton. For Hamilton, Nora Ford had 15 points, although the strong defense of Trenton held her to just three second half points, after the sophomore hit four three-point shots in the first half. Cassie Moore added 15 and Tegan Bruce nine for the Lady Hornets.
Saturday night’s game was broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7.
The Lawson Tournament ended in disappointing fashion for the Trenton boys, who were in Friday night’s semifinals after an overtime win over Carrollton on Tuesday night, only to fall to #1 seed Lawson in the semifinals, 62-50, before falling to the Richmond Spartans in the third place game on Saturday afternoon, 67-47.
In a mild upset, the Penney Hornets beat Lawson for the boys title on Saturday night, with senior LaTroy Harper leading Hamilton to a win on the floor of the #1 seed.
The girls third place game went to Gallatin, by a 49-48 final score over North Platte. The Carrollton boys won the consolation final over Gallatin, 48-36, while the Richmond Lady Spartans beat Lawson in the girls consolation final, 49-48.