Boys Basketball: THS keeps head above .500 in 7-B

In the first half, the Trojans found success from beyond the 3-point line. And when the opponent tried to make defensive adjustments to stop the perimeter success, Troy started going inside to big man Brian Hammrich.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Troy High School boys basketball team and taken a 53-33 victory on Friday night over 7-B District foe Mission.

“We did a little better at putting a fourth quarter together,” Troy coach Cory Andersen said. “Overall, it was one of our better games. We tend to have a lull once in a while on our scoring … but anytime the defense allows 33 points, you should win.”

Troy responded to an early 2-0 deficit with a 9-0 run over a span of just over two minutes in the first quarter. Jake Alexander hit the first of his two 3-pointers in the first, Hammrich completed a three-point play with the hoop and free throw and Trent Cratty came away with a steal and basket for a 9-2 lead.

Alexander hit his second 3-pointer at the 2:35 mark and Mikey Ormiston hit one of his own with 1:15 left in the first.

Troy added two more 3-pointers in the second quarter on another by Ormiston and on a shot by Rayson with only seven seconds left. In all, the Trojans hit five 3-pointers in the first half.

When asked if he was comfortable with his players attempting so many 3-‘s, Andersen said, “If we’re making them … We have some kids that can make those shots. It defnitely gave us a boost.”

Besides the obvious point boost, the 3-point success also forced Mission to switch defensively to a man-to-man. The Trojans took advantage of that as well by getting the ball inside to Hammrich.

Hammrich scored 11 of his 18 points in the second half, including three key baskets during a 9-0 run in the fourth quarter that put the game away. He also slammed the boards for 14 rebounds.

The following day, the Trojans ran into conference champion Bigfork and put up a good fight. But the Vikings pulled away over the final eight minutes to post a 57-42 win.

The Trojans trailed just 36-32 heading into the fourth quarter only to see the Vikings finish with a 21-10 run.

Cratty and Hammrich each scored 12 for the Trojans.

Troy (5-4, 8-8) played host to Libby on Tuesday. The Trojans will also play at home on Friday with a Senior Night visit from Eureka.

Troy 53, Mission 33

Friday at Troy

Scoring by Quarters:

Mission      8      7    13    5—33

Troy    15    13    12    13—53

MISSION (33)

Whitworth-Charlo 1 0-0 2, Evans 2 0-0 4, Gies 2 0-0 4, Silva 2 0-1 4, Jake Durglo 7 3-6 17, Josh Durglo 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 3-7 33.

TROY (53)

Rayson 2 1-3 6, Alexander 2 3-4 9, Higgins 0 1-2 1, Hoffman 0 0-2 0, Cratty 4 1-2 9, Roeder 1 0-2 2, Hammrich 8 2-4 18, Ormiston 3 0-0 8. Totals 20 8-19 53.

Bigfork 57, Troy 42

Saturday at Bigfork

Scoring by Quarters:

Troy    12      7    13    10—42

Bigfork    10    10    16    21—57

TROY (42)

Rayson 7, Alexander 9, Hoffman 2, Cratty 12, Hammrich 12.

BIGFORK (57)

Richmond 3, Gallegos 1, Lorang 11, Jordt 12, Knoll 4, Dopps 2, Ker 11, Evans 5, Fraley 8.