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Trojans easily handle Canberra Melodie Phelps News Editor Basketball took on an international flavor last Tuesday night at the Monticello High School gym as the Trojans hosted the team from Canberra, Australia. The local squad used a strong fourth quarter effort to put away the Aussie team 77-43. ³This was a game that our kids looked forward to...They looked forward to playing the kids from Australia,² said Monticello Coach Gary Abbott. And it was a learning experience for both teams Australian National Anthem before the game to the action on the floor. Abbott noted that the players exchanged gifts during the visit as well. Canberra is an all-boys school near Sydney, Australia. The team was in the midst of a host of games played throughout Indiana and Kentucky during their trip to the U.S. ³Theyıre a nice basketball team,² noted Abbott. ³Theyıre a big team and they are a very physical team.² Canberra started the tallest lineup the Trojans have faced so far this season<6ı7, 6ı5 and 6ı4 on the front line . ³We got to see how we could play against size,² noted Abbott, whose team improved to 5-0 with the win. ³We had better speed than they did.² Monticello established tempo early, as they built up a 25-11 advantage in the first quarter. The Canberra team had cut the advantage to 10, 38-28, by halftime. The Trojans enjoyed a 20-point third quarter effort to push ahead 58-40, and then used a strong fourth quarter to assure the win. Monticello held Canberra to only three points in the final period. During the second half, a scuffle occurred on the court and two players were assessed technical fouls. Abbott called it a ³very aggressive basketball moment² that could have gotten out of hand. ³I want to compliment the officials for doing a nice job of keeping it under control,² said Abbott. He noted that following the game the Australian coach told the MHS staff that ³was the kind of game we like to play,² referring to a physical type game. Abbott and MHS Boys Athletic Director Gary Barnett reviewed tape of the game several times the following day to try to determine what happened with the incident. Abbott said he felt the technical foul against Monticello was assessed against the wrong player, since Michael Borden had actually stepped in as a peace maker but was assessed the foul. Abbott did stated that a one-game suspension would be assessed to one of his players following the review of the tape. Tempers had cooled after the game, as both teams shook hands then shared a meal together. On the evening, Monticello shot the ball very well, connecting on 27 of 46 from the floor for 58 percent. They were 6 of 15 from behind the arc for 40 percent and 17 of 21 from the free throw line for 81 percent. The Trojans had four players in double figures. Justin Branscum scored 16, while Borden scored 15. Billy Inman and Kyle Guffey added 12 points each. Abbott noted that he has been using different combinations of players, which makes it difficult for other teams to scout the Trojans. On any given night, any player can step up and lead the scoring attack. ³You never know which player is going to step up each game,² said Abbott. ³You know you can expect these boys to work hard and to play hard every game.² Next up for Monticello was a trip to Louisville for the St. Francis Tournament. They met Pikeville in first round action Friday night. Saturdayıs games included a consolation and a championship round. Compete details on these games in a related story in this edition. Add a comment |
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