Trojan Shield Weekly Update: January 21, 2019

Greetings from Trojan Country!

Tip Off

A busy first week of the semester is behind us. The student athletes returned to classes, as well as to practice. The baseball and softball teams spent more time shoveling snow than swinging bats, but that is just part of the appeal of spring sports in southern Colorado. The weather had an impact on basketball as well. On Friday, North Platte’s team buses got stuck in the traffic jam south of Denver for about four hours. Their late arrival forced the cancellation of the women’s game and the men’s game tipping off at 9pm. It was a late night for everyone, and I am thankful to the fans that turned out, and especially to the folks that helped on the score table and with filming the game. I’d also like to mention a special congratulations to the folks from Trinidad High. Their teams competed here on Friday afternoon, picking up a pair of victories over Ellicott High School. Great job Miners!

Last Week's Results

Women’s Basketball –

Lost to Frank Phillips 69-68
Game with North Platte was cancelled due to weather
Lost to McCook 92-83

Men’s Basketball –

Lost to North Platte 87-60
Defeated McCook 85-69

Track and Field –

The Track team competed at the Dr. Martin Luther King Collegiate Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico - Trojan results:
Men’s 3000m - 7th Bailey Smith (9:17.80), 8th Riley Allen (9:38.85), 9th John McMahon (9:48.44)
Women’s 3000m – 3rd Benadine Chelimo (10:43.44)
Men’s 600m – 3rd Derek Holdsworth (1:19.18)
Men’s 200m – 31st Dontavis Moore-Ford (24.06)
Men’s 60m – 15th Dontavis Moore-Ford (7.47)
Men’s Mile – 18th Bailey Smith (4:40.65), 19th John McMahon (4:42.87)
Women’s Mile – 18th Toni Moore (5:30.57), 25th Camille Ruggles (6:08.51)
Men’s 800m – 1st Derek Holdsworth (1:51.76), 2nd Godfrey Chama (1:52.57)
Women’s 800m – 10th Benadine Chelimo (2:23.81), 13th Toni Moore (2:30.38), 16th Camille Ruggles (2:49.07)

This Week

Thursday -

Women’s Basketball travels to La Junta to face Otero Junior College at 5pm
Men’s Basketball travels to La Junta to face Otero Junior College at 7pm

Trojans split region games

basketball play

TSJC started Region IX play this weekend, hosting a pair of teams from Nebraska. North Platte was in town on Friday night and McCook was here to face the Trojans on Saturday. Trinidad came out of the weekend 1-1 in league play to start the campaign.

Friday night’s game got off to a very late start due to the snowstorm in the area. North Platte had a great deal of trouble getting to Trinidad, pushing the opening tip back until 9pm. The Trojans got off to a fast start once the game finally got underway, jumping out to a 19-10 lead off an Ian Kelly 3-point jump shot just eight minutes in. The Knights roared back and took the lead 28-26 with five minutes remaining in the half. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded North Platte had increased the lead to 40-32. The second half saw TSJC cut the lead slightly, but then fade away late. The Knights went on to win 87-60. Sophomore guard Issac Essein led the way for TSJC with 12 points.

Hot shooting by visiting McCook on Saturday afternoon put TSJC behind early. The Trojans trailed by as many as 13 in the first-half, eventually heading to the locker room down 50-42. A shift to a zone defense by Coach Mike Folda keyed the comeback in the second half as the Indians went ice cold and the Trojans started to cut into the lead. TSJC would tie it at 52-52, five minutes into the second half when Bilal Shabazz stole the ball and fed Keontae White for the shot. Kelly would then hit a jumper off of an assist from White to put the Trojans up to stay. TSJC pulled away late to win 85-69. White led all scorers with 21 and Shabazz finished with 20 points and ten rebounds.

TSJC is now 14-4, 1-1 on the season. They will next travel to La Junta to take on Otero 13-4, 1-2. Tip off on Thursday night is set for 7pm.

Lady Trojans drop pair of close games

Vigil shot

The Lady Trojan basketball squad fought through a couple of difficult encounters this past week. They fell to Frank Phillips by a single point on Wednesday and then saw a great comeback fall just short against McCook on Saturday.

Against the Plainswomen from Frank Phillips the Trojans were playing short-handed following a pair of injuries in practice the day before, but that didn’t stop TSJC from getting a quick start to go up by 11 at the end of the first quarter. Frank Phillips fought back to bring it to a 28-27 TSJC lead at the half. Trinidad extended the lead after three quarters, but again saw it tighten late. TSJC had the ball with less than 30 seconds to play in a tie game, but a turnover gave the Plainswomen the last chance. A foul with six seconds remaining sent Plainswoman Jordan Taylor to the line. She made one of two and that would be the final point of the contest, Frank Phillips claimed the 69-68 win. Julia Trujillo and Hannah Gilmore were great in the paint for the Trojans, each racking up another double-double. Trujillo finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds while Gilmore had ten points and 14 rebounds. Linsi Calvo finished with 13 and Cassia McCaskill had 12.

On Saturday, the high-octane Indians from McCook came to town. They ran out to a huge 53-37 halftime lead. Coach Rich Holden made some key changes in the locker room and the Trojans turned things around in the second half, chipping away at the McCook lead. TSJC scored 29 in the third while holding McCook to just 23, and then cut the lead to 83-81 on a jumper from Shaylynn Choate with just two minutes remaining. The Indians would hold on and make their free throws down the stretch to eventually win it 92-83. Trujillo led the way with 18 points for TSJC. Gilmore had another double-double with 15 points and 13 boards, and Choate finished with 17 points. Calvo had her second big game of the week putting in 12 off the bench.

The Trojans (9-8, 0-1) will hit the road this week when they travel to La Junta to face Otero. The Rattlers (10-7, 0-2) fell to McCook on Friday night by a score of 85-73.