Whitley Richman fights off ankle injury, scoring 25 points in GRC title game win

Trenton High School senior Whitley Richman returned from a sprained ankle to score 25 points, willing the Trenton Lady Bulldogs to their 20th win of the season and the Grand River Conference championship, in a 51-37 win over the Stanberry Lady Bulldogs on Friday night.

Richman hurt her ankle in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s win at Putnam County, an injury that forced her to miss Wednesday night’s home date with South Harrison.  Against Stanberry, Whitley’s game was in prime form, as she came out of the gates with eight first quarter points, went a total of 11 of 12 from the free-throw line, and scored 10 points in a third quarter surge hat gave the GRC East champs some fourth-quarter breathing room against SHS, who came out of the halftime break down by only three points (23-20).

Head Coach Brian Upton spoke about Richman’s physical efforts, and mental will, in a postgame interview with Sports Director Tom Johnson:

Ainsley Tolson added 15 points for Trenton, now 20-2 on the season, and the newly-crowned champions of the 16-team Grand River Conference. Stanberry, which like Trenton had gone through divisional play unbeaten, dropped to 17-4 overall.  Lily Osborn’s shooting kept Stanberry within shouting distance of the home team in the final quarter, as three second-half three point shots were part of a team-leading 23 point effort.

Missing her fourth straight game for Trenton with the lingering effects of a severe ankle sprain suffered on Thursday, January 26th was sophomore starting small forward Salem Croy.  Coach Upton had an update on Croy’s progress and hopes of getting back on the court sooner than later:

In their next game, Trenton will rematch with Stanberry at the THS gymnasium on Friday night, February 10th at 6 o’clock in the evening.

Other girls inter-divisional finals from the GRC, on Friday night, were:

Gallatin Lady Bulldogs 61, King City Lady Wildkats 31

North Andrew Lady Cardinals 60, South Harrison Lady Bulldogs 53

Putnam County Lady Midgets 68, Braymer Lady Bobcats 58

Princeton Lady Tigers 39, Worth County Lady Tigers 27

Milan Lady Wildcats 54, Pattonsburg Lady Panthers 37

Polo Lady Panthers 50, St. Joseph Christian Lady Lions 34

Maysville Lady Wolverines 42, Albany Lady Warriors 31