Despite scoring the first 10 points of their Class 3 state quarterfinal game against Kansas City Southeast, the Trenton Lady Bulldogs found themselves locked into a furious fight to the finish on Saturday afternoon, with three late game free throws by sophomores Mykah Hurley and Ainsley Tolson giving THS a two-point lead in the final 15 seconds of regulation.
With Trenton able to fend off a pair of late-game possessions by forcing missed jump shots from the Lady Knights, the Lady Bulldogs took control of the ball, with just over six seconds remaining between the “Black and Gold” and a program defining victory.
Tom Johnson had the call on Hot Country Z 101.7 and U-Click TV:
The win pushes Trenton’s record to 27-3, and sends the Lady Bulldogs into a 12 noon semifinal on Thursday afternoon against Whitfield High School at the Hearnes Center in Columbia. Senior forward Whitley Richman battled throughout the game against strong front-court size, and produced one of the best games of her career, with 17 points, including 7 of 8 accuracy from the free throw line. Ainsley Tolson had 10 points, including a huge three-point shot midway through the fourth quarter:
Sidney Lynch had four points with a perfect 4 for 4 day from the free-throw line, while Hurley, who suffered an injury to her chin midway through the second half, returned to the floor late in the game and hit the two free throws that gave Trenton the lead for good.
Head Coach Brian Upton was interviewed by Tom Johnson after the win:
Southeast, finishing the year at 20-6, came up just short in its attempts to knock off a second-straight top 5 ranked team (the Knights beat #3 ranked Boonville on Wednesday). Senior forward Breon Gunnels had 16 points in the loss.
Other Class 3 girls quarterfinal results from Saturday were Whitfield over Saxony Lutheran, 44-37; Lutheran North over Clark County, 64-52; and #1 ranked Strafford, going to 31-0 with a 61-34 win over Southern Boone.
