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!
