Trojans win sixth in a row

By Patrick Browne
CRYSTAL FALLS — The Forest Park Trojan boys defeated the Stephenson Eagles, 43–33, on Jan. 31 and have won their last six consecutive games. They are playing well and have been virtually unstoppable over the past two weeks.
The Eagles entered the contest with a 9–5 record on the season and had scored more than 50 points in each of their previous four games. The Trojans entered the game having won five in a row. 
The teams were evenly matched and, on a bitterly cold evening, the gym quickly heated up as the teams gathered for the opening tip.
Each team put 10 points on the board in the first quarter while Forest Park took a lead heading into halftime 22–17. 
Coach Jason Price inspired his team during the halftime break, and the team responded by outscoring the Eagles 15–6 in the third quarter and taking control of the game 37–23 heading into the final quarter. Stephenson made a last attempt to regain control of the game in the fourth but came up short.
The Trojans are a balanced team which has learned to work collaboratively and wait until a shot surfaces. While the team’s Achilles’ heel is its propensity to turn the ball over, if players can remedy this shortcoming, the team could be fun to watch as the state tournament gets underway. If they can keep their turnovers to single digits, there are enough strong athletes to make a run for a regional or district title.
With a swarming, aggressive style of play, the Trojans outrebounded Stephenson 24–14, shot 80% from the charity stripe, had 16 steals and made close to 50% of their three-point shots. While the Stephenson defense kept a lid on the score, the Trojans won by 10 and are heading into the final month of regular season play feeling confident.
“Going on the road is never easy,” Price said. “I was very proud of the team and the fact they brought home the victory.”
Grayson Sundell led the Trojans with 11 points, while Felix Quevedo and Kevin Giuliani both chipped in nine. Felix Quevado was credited with five steals while Sam McKissack led the Trojans with five rebounds.