The Chillicothe Lady Hornets came into Trenton High School on Thursday night with a new set of characters, but, despite lacking the experience of last year’s senior-laden group, focused on giving the rival Lady Bulldogs their first loss of the season, and, in the process, putting a statement win on the Lady Hornets December resume.
For much of the varsity girls game, broadcast on KTTN FM 92.3, the Lady Hornets looked capable of doing just that, bursting out of the gates to a 15-9 lead after one quarter, as Hunter Keithley had 7 of the Chillicothe points, thus putting the #2 team in the state in Class 3 girls in an early and decisive hole.
However, Trenton’s defense came out stronger, more aggressive, and quicker in the second quarter, with the Lady Bulldogs holding Chillicothe to just four points, while a pair of three-point shots, one by Salem Croy, and the other by Mykah Hurley, provided fuel, as Trenton closed the Hornets lead to 19-17 at the break.
The offenses opened up further in the second half, and while Chillicothe scored 12 third-quarter points (on a pair of three’s by Keithley and Harlie Jones), Croy continued to heat up for Trenton, with a pair of third-quarter triples. Junior guard Ainsley Tolson tied the game for THS midway through the stanza, with Tom Johnson on the play-by-play call:
The back-and-forth feel of the game continued with a pair of Harlie Jones corner “3” balls for the Lady Hornets, the second finishing a 6-0 surge to give Chillicothe a late third quarter advantage:
The Lady Bulldogs took the lead before the end of the quarter on Croy’s third 3-point hit of the night:
Down 32-31 heading into the fourth quarter, the Hornets grabbed the lead back at 35-32, before Hurley, Trenton’s lightning quick off-guard, tied it up again:
Croy’s final three pointer of the night, with 2:45 remaining, gave the Lady Bulldogs the lead for good:
Trenton’s defense locked down Chillicothe over the final two minutes, with Tolson hitting a pair of free throws, Ashten Whitaker hitting a big charity toss, and Mykah Hurley hitting a pair to give Trenton just enough breathing room to get the win.
Croy, months removed from season-ending ankle injury that short-circuited her sophomore season, had the best game of her junior season, leading Trenton with 18 points. Tolson had 14, with Hurley adding 11 points and 4 steals. The win improves Trenton to 6-0 on the season, while dropping Chillicothe to a mark of 2-3.
Trenton coach Brian Upton was pleased to see Croy’s offense come alive in a critical rivalry game for his team:
Chillicothe had 18 points from Hunter Keithley, while Harlie Jones had nine. Chillicothe came into the rivalry game at Trenton with a third place finish in last week’s Savannah Invitational Tournament.
