BASKETBALL: Trinity girls top Tattnall for only win out of four at Macon Christmas event

The Trinity hoops teams returned to hardwood action this week in the Tattnall Square Academy Christmas Tournament. 

The girls fell to Stratford for the third time this season on Monday by a score of 63-52, but rebounded nicely with a 50-39 win over the host squad on Tuesday.

The Crusader boys did not fare as well as they struggled offensively for much of the contest on Monday against the Eagles, falling 51-41. They would also go ice-cold in the second half against the Trojans as they lost 72-52 on Tuesday.

The Eaglettes had blown Trinity out in their two previous meetings this season, but this one was more competitive. 

The Lady Crusaders held a 13-12 lead after one quarter, but Stratford battled back in the second to outscore Trinity 20-13 and take a 32-26 lead into the locker room.

Trinity stayed within striking distance early in the third quarter, but a late run allowed the Eaglettes to outscore the Lady Crusaders 14-10 in the quarter. Trinity trailed 46-36 after three.

The fourth was mostly a stalemate, but Trinity could never get much closer. 

Brinley Vinson led the Lady Crusaders with 20 and Maddy George added 18. Chloe Rozier also reached double figures with 12.

Shannon Smith led the Lady Eagles with 19 and Camiya Hudson had 18. Dalaila Lowe added 12.  Smith made five 3-pointers in the contest.

Tuesday’s game was back-and-forth early on.  

Tattnall Square led 14-10 after one quarter, but the Lady Crusaders won the second quarter 16-8 to take a 26-22 halftime lead.

Trinity dominated both ends of the floor in the third quarter and outscored the Lady Trojans 20-5 in the period to take a commanding 46-27 lead.

Tattnall made the game a bit more respectable in the fourth, but the Lady Crusaders coasted to the double-digit win. 

Vinson led the way again with 17, and George added 12.

Trinity played both games without M.G. Alligood, who is still out with an injury.  

When the Crusader boys met the Eagles met a few weeks back, they came out hot in the first quarter and coasted to an easy win.

That was not the case in this one, as Trinity managed only seven first-quarter points and trailed 14-7.

The second wasn’t much better offensively as they scored just 10. Fortunately, the defense came up big in holding the Eagles to just seven, and Trinity trailed just 21-17 at the half.

The third quarter was not kind on either end of the floor. The Crusaders went cold again offensively, scoring just seven again, while Stratford exploded for 19 to take a 40-24 lead after three.

Trinity finally found some offense in the fourth with 17, but it was too little too late. 

Jamarion Ricks led Trinity with 13 and Jagger George added 12.

Landon Gates and Chandler Freeman had 17 and 15 respectively to lead Stratford.

The Crusaders used a huge fourth quarter to break open a close game in a win over Tattnall Square two weeks ago. This time, it was the Trojans who pulled away late. 

The game was a dead heat in the first half as both teams scored 16 apiece in each of the first two quarters for halftime tie at 32. 

The Trojans began to pull away in the third, outscoring Trinity 22-11to go up 54-43. 

They continued to pull away in the fourth, outpacing Trinity 18-9.  

George led the offense with 21 and Will Foskey added 16.

Whit Davidson led four Trojans in double figures with 26. Ben Brown ended with 12, Micah Clyde added 11 and Champ Caston had 10.

The Crusaders open the new year Friday with two home games against John Milledge Academy, before a 10-day layoff going into their next against CCA Jan. 12, and region opener with Gatewood Jan. 13.