Trojans best Mustangs in home finale
DRUMMOND – It was a prize fight between two of the best teams in District 12C Friday night, as Ennis came to Drummond to take on the Trojans. After four quarters that saw neither team able to completely pull away from the other, Drummond left the gym with a 66-63 win that should secure them the second playoff position when the postseason starts next week.
“That was a huge win for us,” said Trojan Head Coach Levi Parsons. “I kind of challenged Jonah (Parke) a little bit. He wanted to guard (Ennis’ Trevor Swanson) and he did a really good job of it. He got tired a little bit at the end of the game but overall he did a heck of a job He didn’t let him get going.”
Swanson was the catalyst in a 75-64 loss by the Trojans at Ennis Jan. 11 when he hit six three-pointers on his way to 44 points for the game. Friday night Parke was able to keep him more in check, allowing the Mustang shooter 19 points.
Ennis held a 15-13 advantage after the first period, but the Drummond defense clamped down to allow the visitors just six points in the second while posting 14 of their own resulting in a 27-21 halftime lead.
The Trojans would work the lead to as much as 10 on several occasion sin the third, Ennis wouldn’t go away. The two teams played dead even over those eight minutes, each scoring 24 points in the period. While Swanson hit just a three in that stretch and Parke was silent, their teammates picked up the slack. Ennis’ Brand Ostler scored 13 of 18 points in the game in the third while seniors Damian Pool (two three pointers) and Riley Allen added 13 for the Trojans.
“We kind of got lazy and gave up some baskets down low. Our rotation wasn’t there on defense,” reflected Parsons. “One kid would step up to stop that penetration and then they’d stand there and watch a kid shoot a layup. They got us stretched out there for a little bit.
Ennis outscored Drummond in the fourth and even held the lead temporarily, but the Trojans refused to give up a loss on their home floor.
“It proved that they can fight for a win when it’s a tie game,” said Parsons. Parke scored a game-high 24 for Drummond, with Allen adding 15 and Luke Holland 11.
Drummond is off to play its final game of the season on the road Saturday in Lima against the Bears.
SCORING
ENNIS – 15/6/24/18 – 63
DRUMMOND – 13/14/24/15 – 66
Ennis – ISwnason 14, Ostler 18, TSwanson 19, Funston 12
Drummond – Pool 8, JParke 24, Holland 11, Rigby 8, Allen 15
Girls Varsity
Ennis 48, Drummond 33
Ennis got out of the gate quickly and never really looked back as they beat the Lady Trojans on their final home game of the regular season, 48-33.
Despite the final margin, Drummond once again proved it can play with a high caliber team as Ennis is ranked among the state’s best
“I don’t say any loss is a good loss, but there were a lot of positives we can take out of there and some things we gotta work on,” observed Drummond Head Coach Nate Bignell. “They’re really playing hard together. That team (Ennis) is ranked pretty high in the state and that just shows my girls how good they are.”
Lady Trojan Sara Kielley was the lone player to score in double figures with 10.
SCORING
ENNIS – 12/16/6/14 – 48
DRUMMOND – 4/13/9/7 - 33
Ennis – Snider 6, Hokanson 2, Paladichuck 7, McKitrick 16, Klein 17
Drummond – Phillips 4, Parke 3, de Santiago 4, Kielley 10, Bradshaw 2, Hauptman 8, Seekell 2
