BASKETBALL: Trinity girls make impression in Macon openers; Vinson hits 1K in career scoring

Fresh off a 19-win campaign and an appearance in the GIAA championship game, the Trinity Lady Crusaders are looking for even better results this season as they return four starters and nearly all of their offensive production. 

They got off to a fast start this week with a pair of wins to open the season, defeating AAAA First Presbyterian Day 55-51 on Tuesday and following that up with an impressive 62-46 win over St George’s on Thursday.

Both games were played at FPD’s Middlebrooks Athletic Center. 

Tuesday’s against perennial power FPD was back and forth throughout. Trinity led 12-10 after one quarter, but the Lady Vikings edged them in the second quarter for a narrow 22-21 advantage.

The Lady Crusaders came out of the locker room on fire, erupting for 21 third-quarter points. FPD managed just 12 and Trinity led 42-34 going to the fourth.

FPD fought back in the fourth to cut it to one possession several times. But Trinity was able to convert from the charity stripe down the stretch to hold on for the 55-51 win.

Brinley Vinson, who entered the contest 23 points shy of 1000, came up just short of the mark, but led the way with 23. Maddy George added 19.

Morgan Ford led FPD with 14 and Bri Crosby added 10. The Lady Vikings converted just 14 of 30 shots from the line while Trinity went 9-for-14.

Thursday’s contest was the first-ever meeting between Trinity and St George’s Episcopal, which also played in a state finals last season in class A.

Trinity wasted no time getting going as Vinson scored her 1,000th point early in the opening quarter and the Lady Crusaders raced out to 19-6 lead after one.

SGES picked up the defense in the second quarter, holding Trinity to just six, and adding 12 of its own to cut the Crusader lead to 25-18 at the half.

Again, the Lady Crusaders exploded out of the locker room, outscoring St George’s 18-9 in the third to take a commanding 43-27 lead into the final period.

The fourth saw great offense on both side as each team scored 19, but Trinity came away with a solid 16-point victory. 

Vinson again led the way with 19. M.G. Alligood had 16 and George added 12.  Trinity drained six 3-pointers in the contest and finished 12-of-16 from the foul line.

SGES’ Jules Gotell led all scorers wirh 24 and Pressley Bunson added 12.

The Lady Crusaders will return to the court Tuesday, as Trinity’s boys join to make their season debut at home against Stratford.