Troy Buchanan sophomore forward Andrew Moore gives his team its first points of the game with a layup at the 3:25 mark of the first quarter in the Show Me Showdown against Kickapoo Friday in Springfield. The Trojans struggled offensively against the Chiefs, scoring their fewest points of the season in a 55-33 loss.
Troy Buchanan sophomore forward Andrew Moore gives his team its first points of the game with a layup at the 3:25 mark of the first quarter in the Show Me Showdown against Kickapoo Friday in Springfield. The Trojans struggled offensively against the Chiefs, scoring their fewest points of the season in a 55-33 loss.
SPRINGFIELD - Throughout the season, one of Troy Buchanan's mantras was to hold teams under 47 points defensively.
Against Kickapoo in the Show Me Showdown with a chance to play for the Class 6 state basketball championship, the Trojan boys came close to that goal, but the offense didn't follow suit in a 53-33 loss Friday at GSB Arena at Missouri State University.
The 33 points were Troy Buchanan's fewest of the season, 29 below its season average.
"I thought we did a good job defensively" said Trojans coach Tim Gilmore, whose team held the Chiefs to 44% shooting. "We didn't shoot the ball the well."
Troy Buchanan came out of the gates slowly, settling for 3-pointers, instead of attacking the basket like it had all season. The Trojans went the first 4:35 of the contest without a basket until Andrew Moore's layup.
In fact, Troy had two separate stretches of four or more minutes without a basket in the opening 16 minutes. However, its defense kept Kickapoo at bay, as the Chiefs led just 21-14 going into the break.
"We talked about not doing anything but what got us here," said Gilmore, whose Trojans shot just 31% from the field in the loss. "I thought we setled too much for 3s, and the lights were a little too bright for us at the beginning."
"You're going to have those days," said senior guard Charlie Nett, who led the Trojans (25-6) with 16 points. "You have to be able to rely on your defense and get layups when that happens."
Foul trouble also hurt Troy Buchanan with key players going to the bench early with fouls. Keegan Linebaugh was held to just two points due to foul trouble.
However, it was the loss of Jack Fessenden that might have hurt the most for the Trojans. The senior guard suffered a possible head injury while colliding with a Kickapoo player on a fast break in the first player, and left the game for good in the second half.
His status for Saturday's third-place game against Jackson is unknown.
However, Gilmore said his squad is resilient.
"We talk about adversity all of the time," he said. "Adversity hit us back in June (of last year) when we lost (forward Tyler Moore). We're a team that bounces back.
"This is the most coachable team I've had."
Moore was the Trojans' second-leading scorer against the Chiefs with seven points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. The senior also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, and said he was thankful for an opportunity he originally thought he was never going to have.
"When I tore my ACL in June (of 2022), I thought I wouldn't be able to play my senior year," Moore said. "If you told me I'd be playing for third place (against Jackson), I'd take it."
Upgrade to Premium Service for AD-FREE browsing. Only $10.00 additional per month!
or call 636-528-9550 or email bharlow@lincolncountyjournal.com.
Thank you!
As our thanks for being a loyal subscriber, you have been upgraded to our premium service AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE! You'll enjoy AD-FREE access to our site as long as you are a paid subscriber. ENJOY!
