Trojans in Hamilton for Class B Divisional Basketball

The Troy Trojans boys basketball team is headed to the Western B Divisional in Hamilton this week.

The Trojans are enjoying their best season since 2011-12 when they finished 16-6 and won the 7 B title behind the play of twin brothers Cory and Cody Orr. It's their first trip to the divisional tournament since 2018.

Cody Orr is the Trojans head coach and his nephew Carson Orr leads the team in scoring.

“I love the sport,” Cody said in a recent interview with the Daily Inter Lake. “It’s helped mold my character. I’ve got more hours on that basketball court right outside the high school than most people have inside the gym. I have deep passion for the sport, and I have family involved.”

The Trojans qualified for the divisional following a 55-38 win over Eureka Feb. 21 in St. Ignatius. They fell to Thompson Falls, 67-43, Feb. 22 in the title game.

Against Eureka, Nolan Morris led the Trojans with 22 points while Carson Orr poured in 18. Against the Blue Hawks, Orr scored 20 points and Morris added eight.

The Trojans (12-7) began play Thursday night against Arlee at 8:15 p.m. It was the final contest of four games Thursday. 

The Arlee Warriors are 14-5. They share one common opponent with the Trojans - Mission. Arlee swept the Bulldogs by scores of 65-49 and 67-28. Troy claimed a 72-38 win on Jan. 18.

7B winner Thompson Falls opened Thursday’s play with a game against Anaconda. Eureka and Florence followed at 1:15 p.m. and Missoula Loyola tangled with Mission at 6:30 p.m.

Depending on Thursday night’s result, Troy would play in a loser-out game at 1:15 p.m. Friday or in a semifinal at 8:15 p.m.

The championship game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The top two teams qualify the Class B state tournament March 13-15 at the University of Montana in Missoula.

Carson Orr, a junior, is leading the Trojans in scoring with 16 points per game. Orr also leads the team with three steals per game. He is second on the team in assists, blocks and 3-point shots.

Kempton Sloan is Troy’s second-leading scorer with 12 ppg. He’s tied with Nolan Morris for the team lead in rebounding with nine per game. Sloan also leads the team in blocked shots with 17.

Morris, who moved into the point guard role this season, has had a standout season, too, while averaging seven ppg., fourth on the team. Morris leads the team in rebounding, assists and is second in steals. His assist-steal ratio to turnovers is nearly 3 to 1.

Emerson Downey is Troy’s leading 3-point shooter with 37. He averages nine ppg., third on the team. He is also third in rebounding and assists and tied for third in steals.

Missoula Loyola is the clear favorite in the tournament field. The two-time defending Class A state champs won both of their 6B games over Arlee and Florence by 40 points.

    Troy junior guard Emerson Downey hit a key 3-pointer in a game Friday, Jan. 17, 2024, against Superior. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)