Champs again (and for the first time)!!

Our Trinity Christian School athletes cemented their place in the New England Association of Christian Schools (NEACS) history books this weekend

 

Our girls' volleyball team won its first championship - state or regional - by defeating Central Christian Academy of Connecticut three games to two. They started slowly and quickly found themselves down two sets to none. Even in the third set, the team was faced with elimination but survived three game points in the third set (down 24-21), but dug deep, didn't lose heart and came back to win that third set. They won the fourth set to force a do-or-die fifth set. After starting the game down six points and later facing an 8-4 deficit, the Swordsmen roared back to claim the championship with a final score of 15-13 in the deciding set. Kaylee, our lone senior, and Taylor received all-tournament honors, and Caroline was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Trinity also finished the year with an unblemished record of 13-0.

In clinching the volleyball title, the Swordsmen athletics program completed what could be dubbed as the "Regional Slam," having now laid claim to the Girls' Volleyball ('16), Boys' Soccer ('11, '12, and '16), Girls' Basketball ('14), and Boys' Basketball ('16) titles. TCS currently holds three of the four regional trophies! TCS joins only three other schools (Emmanuel, CT; Trinity, VT; and SMCA, NH) to have accomplished this feat since 2000, and TCS and SMCA are the only two schools to accomplish that this decade.

About the same time Caroline pounded her final spike to end the volleyball tournament, the referee's whistle blew to conclude the guys' soccer game vs. Emmanuel. The championship game began with each team attempting to establish a rhythm on a slick field, but Trinity's squad quickly began to take control of the midfield with intricate passing combinations and its trademark ball control. The times that Emmanuel did obtain, they were quickly hounded into errors by front to back pressure. Dima got the Swordsmen on the board 14 minutes into the game, and 12 minutes later, Stan blasted home a shot to give Trinity some much needed cushion. Despite the soggy field conditions, Trinity's stingy defense was in lock-down mode, yielding only a couple of legitimate attempts on goal. Stan, Ben, and Henry were named to the all-tournament team, and Drew was recognized as the Most Valuable Player. Trinity finished the season at 12-4-1.

None of this would be possible without the dedication and commitment of our coaches - special thanks to the Oxfords (Mr. and Mrs.), Coach Lampman, and Coach Foss.

M. Kingsley's 2015/16 Basketball season summary

 

 Where did the season go?  We were just playing the Christmas tournament. 

 

 

To summarize the girls' basketball season, the Trinity girls started conference play after Christmas and played extremely well, only losing to SMCA, and finishing the conference season in second place with a 6-2 record.  They defeated Tabernacle in the state semifinals and then fell to SMCA for the NHACS championship.  Caroline and Taylor were named to the All-Tournament team.  

Their performance in the regular season and the tournament earned them a 5 seed in the NEACS regional tournament.  Their first matchup was against Trinity of Williston, VT, which they won 43-32.  This victory sent them to a semifinal matchup against SMCA...for the sixth game against them of the year.  TCS applied pressure throughout the game and closed to within six, but a late 10-0 run by South Merrimack provided the needed cushion to pull out a 38-29 victory.  The girls then concluded their season with a rematch against an Emmanuel team that had solidly defeated them by double digits in mid January

. In a complete reversal of roles, the Trinity girls jumped out to an early lead an utilized their pressure to dominate the game in a  20 point victory, clinching the 3rd place consolation trophy for the NEACS tournament for the second consecutive year.  Congratulations to Caroline and to Keri for earning all-tournament honors!  

 

The Trinity girls finished their season with a 15-10 record, clinching second in the NHACS and third in the NEACS.

The Trinity boys likewise earned a 6-2 record in their NHACS games and earning a #2 seed in the state tournament. 

They did not lack for excitement, losing to Emmanuel of CT on a last second bucket in January and to South Merrimack on a three pointer with four seconds left in February.  The boys defeated #3 seed Victory Baptist in the semifinals of the state tournament to setup a much anticipated rematch with defending champion SMCA.  Unfortunately, SMCA was too much for Trinity at the offensive and defensive end of the floor and was once again crowned champion of the NHACS with a 58-40 victory over Trinity.  Jacob and Jordan received all-tournament honors.

Trinity received a #3 seed for the regional tournament, and they defeated #6 seed Twin City in a rematch of the Twin City Christmas Tournament championship game.  This game propelled them into a semifinal rematch with #2 seed Emmanuel. Looking to avenge its 2 point loss in January, Trinity started slowly, leading by 5 points and 12 points at the end of the first quarter and first half, respectively.  The knockout punch came with a 19-2 run in the third quarter, and Trinity pulled away with a 61-40 victory which landed the team in just its second NEACS regional championship game (and first since 2012) against...SMCA.  The championship game started very inauspiciously for Trinity as they dug a 15-5 hole against SMCA's speed and height.  However, by the middle of the second quarter, Trinity had caught up with SMCA and engaged in what would be one of the most exciting regional championship games in recent memory. 

The game itself produced over 25 ties and lead changes, with each squad answering the bell with clutch three point baskets, jump shots, and free throws.  Even after two calmly sunk free throws by Kent with eight seconds remaining, Trinity and its fans had to wait for a last second three pointer by SMCA to be off the mark before celebrating a 67-64 win and its first boys' regional basketball title in school history.  Jake was named to the all-tournament team, and Tim (who scored a career high 31 points, including 7 three pointers) was named tournament MVP.

Trinity's boys finished with a 19-6 record, earning second in states and first in the NEACS.

We thank all of our coaches, players, and fans for a terrific season, and we give God the glory for all that was learned and experienced through the inevitable lessons a basketball season brings!

 

Twin City Christmas Invitational

The Swordsmen basketball teams traveled to compete in the Twin City Christmas Invitational over December 18-19.  The girls opened up the double-elimination tournament with a convincing win over Legacy Christian Academy.  The guys' first game was against the Southern New Hampshire Christian Co-op.  The game was tightly contested, but the Swordsmen were able to pull away late in the game in spite of the defensive presence of the Griffins.

The girls' next match came against South Merrimack.  Although they played the SMCA squad evenly in the second half, the Swordsmen were unable to overcome a poor first half and dropped into the loser's bracket with the loss.  The guys' team then met the host school, Twin City, in the nightcap.  After a slow start, the boys finished strong with a 25-0 run to close the first half, coasting to victory.

The girls defeated Southern new Hampshire Christian Co-op early the next morning, then defeated a tough Twin City girls' team to advance back to the championship game against SMCA, who they would have to defeat twice if they were to be crowned champions. 

Unfortunately, they were unable to build upon the previous night's second half success, with fatigue from the previous two games that day making the imposing Lady Minutemen even more daunting. We are proud of their runner-up finish as it represents the culmination of a long weekend that saw them develop into a more cohesive team unit!

The guys waited and waited and waited for their shot at earning the TCCI championship, finally tipping off around 2:30 that afternoon.  When they jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the first few minutes, it appeared that they would run away with the tourney.  However, Twin City fought back over the next 12 minutes, even taking a 22-21 lead before trailing 28-22 at the half.  Trinity came out of the locker room with a renewed focus on defense and put the game out of reach by holding TCCS to three points in the third quarter.  Trinity's boys won their second Christmas invitational in three years with its victory.

 

TCS vs Tri-City Christian Academy

 Trinity Christian School officially hit the hardwood Monday night in Somersworth against non-conference opponent Tri-City Christian Academy.  

 The girls jumped out to an 11-2 first quarter lead and held that margin throughout the remainder of the game with solid defense and good ball movement.





Taylor's 15 points paced the team to its season-opening win, 29-20.

 

 The guys' team jumped out to an equally hot start, leading 20-10 at the end of the first quarter, eventually pushing the lead to 20 midway through the second quarter.  

 

However, foul trouble and poor decision-making allowed Tri-City to creep back within 9 as late as the 5 minute mark of the 3rd quarter.  Once the Swordsmen regained their defensive focus, they were able to pull away and finish with a 73-41 victory. 

 

 Four Trinity players scored in double digits, led by Jordan with 18 points.  

  

 

 

Trinity's boys play Thursday night at Bradford, while the girls take the court next against Mount Royal on Tuesday.

Swordsmen head to State Tournament

NHACS tournament starts tomorrow!  

Our boys play against Tabernacle at 1 p.m. 

and our girls against Victory at 5 p.m. 

  

Please pray for safety and that our attitudes, actions, and spirit would reflect the Lord Jesus Christ.

Volleyball Trinity vs Victory away game

The Lady Swordsmen clinched 

an undefeated regular season with 

a three set win at Victory on Thursday.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As has been the case throughout the season, 

all players were able to contribute towards this win.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Squishy Duck was awarded 

to Carolyn, who answered the coaches' pleas for aggressiveness while playing back row.  

 

 

 

 

 

The state tournament will be held  

this Friday and Saturday, schedule TBA.

Away TCS Ladyswordsmen at SMCA

The Trinity girls won a hard-fought match on the road Tuesday 

against South Merrimack Christian Academy.

 

All three of the games TCS won were by two points (25-23, 28-26, and 27-25 in the clinching game).  

 Just a point or two and the match would have had a different outcome.  The coaches noted that the team play and hard work at practice wound up being the difference. 

 Hannah received the Squishy Duck for playing within her ability 
and for her offense at opportune times.