Trojans rally to win first playoff game 48-45

The Troy boys basketball team had a shaky second half, and looked doomed to the Thompson Falls Bluehawks.

But a little bit of luck went a long way, as Troy rallied from eight points down to beat Thompson Falls 48-45.

"Tonight it was better to be lucky," said Troy head coach Cory Andersen. "(The Bluehawks) played really well. That's the kind of game they needed to play."

After tying with their opponents at the end of the first quarter and then the first half, Troy slipped behind in the third. 

The Trojan offense grew anemic, and Thompson Falls jumped ahead.

But then, mistakes began to pile up for T-Falls. Senior guard Austin Grable hit a huge 3-pointer in the last minute of play to pull Troy within two points.

Then junior guard Gabe Hickman hit one at the top of the key to give the Trojans their first lead in a long time.

A quick foul on freshman post Sean Opland allowed for two more points, and Troy bounced away from trouble and onto Saturday's Divisional game.

"It's just the simple fact that we didn't close the game," said Thompson Falls Head Coach Chadd Laws. "There were just too many empty trips downcourt."

Grable opened the game with 11 points in the first quarter, Opland closed it with eight. 

The Bluehawks were led by 6-foot 5-inch senior forward Baptiste Seynaeve with 14 points.

Troy will play the winner of the Bigfork/Eureka game Saturday, Feb. 16, at 5 p.m.

Troy 48, Thompson Falls 45

T-Falls 13   10   14   8   -   45

Troy     13   10   12   13  -  48

T-Falls: Baptiste Seynaeve 14, Tanner Laws 10, Trais Hoisington 8, Dominique Holt 6, Caleb Bates 3, Ross Dalby 2, Tyler Bates 2.

Troy: Sean Opland 18, Austin Grable 17, Gabe Hickman 7, Luke Haggerty 2, Gage Tallmadge 2, Nathan Olds 2.