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Sports
Sports
By Patrick Browne
CRYSTAL FALLS - The Forest Park Trojans in what was their most exciting game of the season defeated the Norway Knights 40-37 in a thrilling Regional Semi-Final game on March 8.
Having faced off twice previously this season against the Knights and having lost 61-31 in the first match and 51-42 in the second, the Trojans needed a new strategy and knew they had to play their best game of the year. They checked both boxes.
Coach Jason Price and his team adopted a very slow-paced strategy to maximize and only take high percentage shots. The Trojans passing game protected the ball while their opponent was equally disciplined and refused any easy shots.
The first quarter ended with the Trojans down 10-3 and the halftime score was an unusual 15-9. Fast breaks never materialized and breakdowns in the defense did not occur as the game resembled the intentionality of two boxers looking for weak spots before going on the offensive.
As the second half opened and the pressure built, timeout after timeout saw both teams attempt to punch through the other’s defense. Norway succumbed to the pressure, pulled their defense out to the half court line to force the tempo of the game and the Trojans passed the ball to the wing where a ready Grayson Sundell sank two of his four three-point shots of the night and tied the score at 19 heading into the final quarter of play.
In the final eight minutes both teams turned up the tempo and made a race to the finish line. The Knights pushed their game, scoring 18 points in the quarter and embracing a strategy to force the Trojans to take free throws rather than be given open shots.
Norway’s strategy in previous games had led to victory, but it is almost impossible to beat a team three times in the same season and this night would prove no exception. The Trojans sank pressure free throw after pressure free throw and despite seeing a 10 point lead, they built in the final quarter almost disappear, it never did. The Trojans scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, two more than in the three previous quarters and came home with the victory, 40-37.
“The boys really trusted the game plan and we prepared very hard for this game. I give credit to the players for listening and making the shots when they were needed. The entire team deserves credit for this win! It was a team victory and they executed well,” stated the exuberant Trojans Coach Jason Price.
Coach Jason Price and his boys will take their 15 and 8 record to Watersmeet to play for the Regional Final on Friday, March 10.