The Trenton Lady Bulldogs picked up a game-high 20 points from junior guard Ainsley Tolson, including 12 points in the fourth quarter to extinguish any thoughts of a Gallatin upset, as Trenton stayed unbeaten, and won the Gallatin Tournament title for the third consecutive year, with a 54-34 victory on Saturday afternoon from Gallatin High School.
In action broadcast on Hot Country Z 101.7, the teams started the first quarter slow on the offensive end, with Trenton, on the strength of a late quarter three-ball by Tolson, taking a 7-6 lead to the quarter break. The second quarter saw the Trenton Lady Bulldogs find more rhythm offensively, with Salem Croy hitting a pair of triples, part of a 16-5 advantage that gave THS a 23-11 lead at the half. The Trenton defense, in the first half, was suffocating, holding Gallatin to a pair of three-pointers by Kelsey Maxwell, a made “3” by Karley Salmon, and a two-pointers by Courtney Shubert.
Gallatin made a push at Trenton early in the third quarter, scoring the first six points out of the break, but Trenton again was able to “right their ship”, with a Mykah Hurley three-pointer key in pushing the lead back to 32-21 for THS by the end of the third.
As the game opened up in the fourth quarter, with Gallatin having to more aggressively attack Trenton defensively, and shoot earlier offensively, the potent Trenton transition game took control, as the #2 ranked (MBCA) Lady Bulldogs raced out to the 20 point win.
Named to the All-Tournament team from Trenton High School were Tolson, Hurley, and Sidney Lynch. Gallatin, in their first loss of the season (4-1), was led by Kelsey Maxwell with 15 points (all in the second half), while Cora Stout added eight.
Trenton Coach Brian Upton, widely known to be a coach who stresses defensive intensity, is pleased with his team’s start in that area:
The back-court tandem of Tolson and Hurley continue to set the pace for Trenton’s high level of play early this season:
Trenton will host Marceline on Tuesday night at 6 o’clock on Hot Country Z 101.7, while Gallatin will take on the North Andrew Cardinals on Tuesday night, part of an “East-West” Grand River Conference doubleheader. Trenton and Gallatin’s teams will rematch on Tuesday, December 19th at Gallatin High School, as part of the school’s GRC varsity doubleheader match-up.
Photo credit – John Cowling / Facebook / Gallatin High School in Gallatin, MO
