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There was a lot going on at Truman High School on Thursday night. It was parents’ night. It was Truman’s annual Coaches vs. Cancer night. It was also the night that the Downriver League championship found a new home.
Robert Whitehorn secured an outright league championship for the Cougars when the senior knocked down a game-winning shot with less than five seconds remaining in Truman’s 56-55 victory over Trenton.
The highly anticipated matchup between first-place Truman (15-3, 12-1 DRL) and second-place Trenton (13-5, 10-3 DRL) lived up to the billing and the Cougars held off a fourth quarter rally to pull two games ahead of the Trojans in the final DRL standings.
“The kids feel great about it,” Truman Coach Chuck Suttles said. “They won it outright and we’re not sharing it with anyone. We wanted to come out here, knock this thing down and win it outright.”
An Aaron Foster-Smith three-pointer gave Truman a 48-36 lead early in the fourth, but the Trojans gradually chipped into the Cougar lead throughout the quarter.
Things got interesting in the last four minutes when Trenton’s Jerry LaBell knocked down a triple to pull the Trojans within five – 51-46 – with 3:25 remaining. After trading baskets, LaBell shortened the deficit again two minutes with a basket to pull the Trojans within three points. Trenton’s Dan Mercure forced a steal on the ensuing inbounds and tied the game 53-53 with an old-fashioned three-point play with 1:24 remaining.
“He’s our catalyst when he does things like that,” Trenton Coach Rick Morrow said. “We needed something to kick us and he did it.”
Foster-Smith was fouled five seconds later and made one-of-two free throws to put the Cougars back ahead by one – 54-53 – with 1:19 remaining.
The Cougars had opportunities to extend their lead in the final minute after forcing a steal and drawing multiple fouls, but the hosts missed two front-ends of one-and-ones.
“I think the problem was that we were playing not to lose instead of playing to win,” Whitehorn said. “We were trying too hard to not mess up and maintain a lead and that was messing us up more.
“They were coming hard at us. They wanted to win. We were playing not to lose.”
With 18.8 seconds remaining, LaBell drew a foul and went to the line for a one-and-one of his own. The cold-blooded junior calmly knocked down both shots and gave the Trojans a 55-54 advantage.
Truman turned to its senior leader in the waning moments and he did not disappoint.
Whitehorn took the ball near the top of the key with less than 10 seconds remaining and, after being forced to call an audible on the called play, he drove to the left side of the lane and made a contested fall away jumper with 3.5 seconds remaining for a 56-55 Cougar lead.
“Originally we had a set play and then once I got the ball, I saw the side was overloaded and the play was broken up,” said Whitehorn, who had 15 points and six assists. “I looked at the clock and saw that there was like six seconds left. I just thought ‘go to the hole.’”
After an inbounds pass near half court and a quick timeout, the Trojans had the ball out-of-bounds with 2.9 seconds left for one final play. Trenton’s Jason Zahran took the inbounds pass near midcourt, dribbled up the sideline and drew contact on a desperation three-pointer.
No foul was called, the shot rimmed out and the Cougars escaped with a win and a league championship.
“It’s just a shame that it had to end like that,” Morrow said. “I don’t feel bad for myself. I just feel bad for my kids.”
Despite the frustrating finish, Morrow was impressed with another fierce battle between the two teams.
“We came in here and we knew that we were the underdogs,” Morrow said. “They’ve been on a roll and we’ve been struggling of late a little bit, but it was another great game.
“That’s two losses to this team by a total of four points. I’m proud of my kids. They just don’t quit and they play hard.”
Suttles was also impressed, but not surprised by the fight put up by the Trojans.
“It was a great game to watch, but it was a tough game to sit on the bench and coach,” Suttles said. “Coach Morrow and his team, I knew they were going to be tough this year. I think some people overlooked them a bit, but it’s no surprise to us that they were here and that we went to war with them tonight.”
Neither team could distance itself from the other in the first half as score remained within two points throughout the first two quarters. The Trojans carried a 21-19 lead into the half after Dan Mercure came up with a steal in the final seconds of the second quarter and fired the ball down the court to a streaking Jeremy Horst who beat the buzzer with an off-balanced layup.
Truman scored the first six points of the third quarter and, led by Whitehorn (nine points), pulled ahead 46-36 entering the fourth after outscoring the Trojans 26-15.
Foster-Smith had 17 points, six rebounds and three steals for Truman while Devin Goodwell and Anthony Wartley-Fritz each had seven. Goodwell also pulled down 10 rebounds.
Zahran led the Trojans with 15 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Dan Hall had 12 points and eight rebounds and LaBell also scored 12.
Even in defeat, Morrow and the Trojans can’t help but look at how far they have come in the last two seasons and will now prepare for the upcoming district tournament.
“I think we’re in real good shape,” Morrow said. “I think we’re hungry. It’s been a drought in Trenton for a real long time and we finally have turned things around where we’re respected.
“Going into districts, this team’s hungry. They want it bad. They want it real bad. If we stay fundamentally sound, anything can happen. I’m real excited for districts and we’re going to make a showing.”
BOYS' BASKETBALL: Truman edges Trenton to clinch DRL title(PHOTO)
Photo by Larry Caruso
Robert Whitehorn secured an outright league championship for the Cougars when the senior knocked down a game-winning shot with less than five seconds remaining in Truman’s 56-55 victory over Trenton.
The highly anticipated matchup between first-place Truman (15-3, 12-1 DRL) and second-place Trenton (13-5, 10-3 DRL) lived up to the billing and the Cougars held off a fourth quarter rally to pull two games ahead of the Trojans in the final DRL standings.
“The kids feel great about it,” Truman Coach Chuck Suttles said. “They won it outright and we’re not sharing it with anyone. We wanted to come out here, knock this thing down and win it outright.”
An Aaron Foster-Smith three-pointer gave Truman a 48-36 lead early in the fourth, but the Trojans gradually chipped into the Cougar lead throughout the quarter.
Things got interesting in the last four minutes when Trenton’s Jerry LaBell knocked down a triple to pull the Trojans within five – 51-46 – with 3:25 remaining. After trading baskets, LaBell shortened the deficit again two minutes with a basket to pull the Trojans within three points. Trenton’s Dan Mercure forced a steal on the ensuing inbounds and tied the game 53-53 with an old-fashioned three-point play with 1:24 remaining.
“He’s our catalyst when he does things like that,” Trenton Coach Rick Morrow said. “We needed something to kick us and he did it.”
Foster-Smith was fouled five seconds later and made one-of-two free throws to put the Cougars back ahead by one – 54-53 – with 1:19 remaining.
The Cougars had opportunities to extend their lead in the final minute after forcing a steal and drawing multiple fouls, but the hosts missed two front-ends of one-and-ones.
“I think the problem was that we were playing not to lose instead of playing to win,” Whitehorn said. “We were trying too hard to not mess up and maintain a lead and that was messing us up more.
“They were coming hard at us. They wanted to win. We were playing not to lose.”
With 18.8 seconds remaining, LaBell drew a foul and went to the line for a one-and-one of his own. The cold-blooded junior calmly knocked down both shots and gave the Trojans a 55-54 advantage.
Truman turned to its senior leader in the waning moments and he did not disappoint.
Whitehorn took the ball near the top of the key with less than 10 seconds remaining and, after being forced to call an audible on the called play, he drove to the left side of the lane and made a contested fall away jumper with 3.5 seconds remaining for a 56-55 Cougar lead.
“Originally we had a set play and then once I got the ball, I saw the side was overloaded and the play was broken up,” said Whitehorn, who had 15 points and six assists. “I looked at the clock and saw that there was like six seconds left. I just thought ‘go to the hole.’”
After an inbounds pass near half court and a quick timeout, the Trojans had the ball out-of-bounds with 2.9 seconds left for one final play. Trenton’s Jason Zahran took the inbounds pass near midcourt, dribbled up the sideline and drew contact on a desperation three-pointer.
No foul was called, the shot rimmed out and the Cougars escaped with a win and a league championship.
“It’s just a shame that it had to end like that,” Morrow said. “I don’t feel bad for myself. I just feel bad for my kids.”
Despite the frustrating finish, Morrow was impressed with another fierce battle between the two teams.
“We came in here and we knew that we were the underdogs,” Morrow said. “They’ve been on a roll and we’ve been struggling of late a little bit, but it was another great game.
“That’s two losses to this team by a total of four points. I’m proud of my kids. They just don’t quit and they play hard.”
Suttles was also impressed, but not surprised by the fight put up by the Trojans.
“It was a great game to watch, but it was a tough game to sit on the bench and coach,” Suttles said. “Coach Morrow and his team, I knew they were going to be tough this year. I think some people overlooked them a bit, but it’s no surprise to us that they were here and that we went to war with them tonight.”
Neither team could distance itself from the other in the first half as score remained within two points throughout the first two quarters. The Trojans carried a 21-19 lead into the half after Dan Mercure came up with a steal in the final seconds of the second quarter and fired the ball down the court to a streaking Jeremy Horst who beat the buzzer with an off-balanced layup.
Truman scored the first six points of the third quarter and, led by Whitehorn (nine points), pulled ahead 46-36 entering the fourth after outscoring the Trojans 26-15.
Foster-Smith had 17 points, six rebounds and three steals for Truman while Devin Goodwell and Anthony Wartley-Fritz each had seven. Goodwell also pulled down 10 rebounds.
Zahran led the Trojans with 15 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Dan Hall had 12 points and eight rebounds and LaBell also scored 12.
Even in defeat, Morrow and the Trojans can’t help but look at how far they have come in the last two seasons and will now prepare for the upcoming district tournament.
“I think we’re in real good shape,” Morrow said. “I think we’re hungry. It’s been a drought in Trenton for a real long time and we finally have turned things around where we’re respected.
“Going into districts, this team’s hungry. They want it bad. They want it real bad. If we stay fundamentally sound, anything can happen. I’m real excited for districts and we’re going to make a showing.”
Last Updated: 2/22/2013 11:56:46 AM EST