Trojans cagers get right with win over Garden City

After a slow beginning to the 202223 season, the Trenton basketball team needed a bit of a kickstart.

They just may have gotten it on Jan. 18 when they ripped the visiting Garden City Cougars 74-51 in a nonleague game.

The Trojans trailed 4-3 a minute into the game, but after Michael Alexander tied the game with a free throw, it was all Trenton the rest of the night.

The game was by far the best of the season for the Trojan, who beat their previous high point total by 16.

Trenton’s previous high had come in a 58-52 win over Southgate.

Trenton moved the ball exceedingly well against the Cougars and the result was plenty of good looks at the basket. The Trojans scored inside, outside and from midrange. It was a complete offensive effort and many people contributed.

Nine Trojans scored in the game and four – Alexander, Ashton Rooney, Jason Keresi and CJ Haddad – each reached double figures.

After tying the game early in the first quarter, Trenton went on an 11-3 run to get control of the contest.

It was 22-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Trenton scored the final five points of the first quarter and the first five of the second to up its lead to 29-10, but then the Trenton shots stopped falling and Garden City made a little run of its own, cutting the Trenton lead to 29-21.

But as quickly as the Trenton scoring dried up, it returned and Trenton outscored Garden City 10-0 over the course of the last two minutes of the first half. Garden City’s Brendan VanBelle did hit a long three-pointer at the buzzer and the team went off at halftime with Trenton holding a 39-24 advantage.

The halftime break did nothing to cool off the red-hot Trojans. In fact, they came out in the third period even hotter. Led by Keresi, who had 13 of his game-high 22 points in the third quarter, Trenton scored 26 points and held the Cougars to just 13.

Leading 65-37 heading into the final eight minutes of play, Trenton coach Jay Babyak emptied his bench and every one got into the action.

Following Keresi on the score sheet were Haddad with 14, Alexander with 13 and Rooney with 10.

Also scoring for Trenton were Alex Pawlak, Andrew Hawkins, Nathan Ariganello and Andrew Haddad.

The victory led Trenton with a 2-5 overall mark this season. The Trojan were 1-3 in Downriver League games heading into a Jan. 19 meeting with Carlson.

Trenton’s other win this season was the decision over Anderson. That win came in overtime. CJ Haddad led the team that night with 18 points.

Rooney had 13 and Alexander 10.

In another close league game on Dec. 20, the Trojans showed their resolve.

Despite scoring only three points in the first quarter and trailing 13-3 after one and 30-13 at halftime, Trenton fought back and made a game of it before eventually losing 52-46.

Keresi had 15 points, Rooney nine and Alexander seven, but it wasnoght quite enough.

Trenton has also lost this season to Riverview, Gabriel Richard, Woodhaven and Lincoln Park.

The team will sandwich home games against Allen Park (Jan. 24) and Anderson (Feb. 2) around a trip to Wyandotte (Jan. 26.)

The Michigan High School Athletic Association state tournament begins with district on March 6. Trenton will go to Woodhaven for districts. Also there will be the host Warriors, Carlsin, Monroe and Bedford.