CHARLESTON — Any season that ends on the court in the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center can be described as successful.
That’s why, despite losing 81-40 to Williamstown in the quarterfinals Wednesday evening, the Trinity Christian boys’ basketball team still feels good about the year they had.
“We were very proud, very honored to be here, that was our goal all year long,” TC coach Codey Horton said. “Overall, we were very happy to be here. We knew what we were getting into and they got all their shots and we just could not take care of the ball.”
Williamstown (25-0) is undefeated this season and the number-one team in the Class AA bracket and looked the part Wednesday, using a full-court press to knock the Warriors (14-12) off their game early and capitalize. The Yellowjackets started the game on an 11-0 run and led 19-4 after the first quarter.
“For us to get off to a pretty good started helped to calm some nerves for some of our guys, which I thought we needed,” Williamstown coach Scott Sauro said. “We scored early, got a lead early and I thought the kids could relax a little bit and settle in.”
Trinity battled back in the second quarter, scoring 18 to Williamstown’s 21, but by then the damage was done as the Warriors trailed 40-22 at halftime.
“In the second quarter, we handled the ball,” Horton said. “And when we got the ball moving, we could score, but we struggled with the press and that’s how it took over.”
Williamstown’s superior depth made a difference in the second half as the pace of play was wearing on Trinity’s rotation.
“We knew they were going to press and their trapping was really good (Wednesday),” Horton said. “It’s really hard to play six or seven (players) and be composed. We really had to try to find who could step up and handle the ball.”
Williamstown’s 81-point effort was led by 26 points from Parker Schramm, who tied a state tournament record with six three-pointers in the contest.
Carter Hartsock led Trinity with 14 points and eight rebounds. After watching his older brother play in the tournament in 2019, Hartsock said getting to play a game himself was special.
“Not only to be back here, but to play here is such an accomplishment in itself,” the junior said. “It’s just a really great experience overall.”
Sophomore Chayce Adams finished second for Trinity with 12 points, four rebounds and three assists.
One of two just seniors on the team, Levi Teets said finally making it to the state tournament in his final year meant a lot to him.
“Being able to finally accomplish my goal in my senior year means the world to me and there’s no other team I would’ve wanted to do it with,” Teets said. “Ever since I was a freshman, my goal was to get a piece of the net and go to states for basketball. Even though we obviously didn’t win, just getting to go here was a huge moment for me.”
Teets finished with three points. Junior Ben Lohmann scored four points with seven rebounds and three blocks. Trinity shot just 15 of 46 in the game, including a 1 for 12 first quarter, and went 2 of 13 from deep.
With the game no longer in question in the final minute, Horton made sure to get everyone on his roster into the game at least once.
“One minute is longer than I have ever played on that court,” Horton, who never reached the tournament as a student-athlete, said. “I was glad that I got everybody in there.”
Williamstown 81, Trinity 40
TC 4 18 7 11 — 40
WTN 19 21 20 21 — 81
Trinity — Kniska 1 0-0 2; Adams 5 1-2 12; Teets 0 3-6 3; Hartsock 5 4-4 14; White 1 0-0 2; Lohmann 2 0-0 4; Hancox 1 0-0 3.
Williamstown — Schramm 10 0-0 26; Joy 3 0-0 6; Irvin 4 0-0 8; Lemley 4 0-0 8; Islay 0 0-0 0; Goodnow 1 0-0 3; Ashley 1 0-0 3; Bryant 3 0-0 7; Bowyer 1 0-0 2; Wigal3 0-0 6; Bunch 1 0-0 3; Hils 3 2-2 9.
3 Pt. Goals — Trinity 2 (Adams, Hancox). Williamstown 11 (Schramm 6, Goodnow 1, Ashley 1, Bryant 1, Bunch 1, Hills 1).
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