By Ryan Davenport, WSON Sports Correspondent 

The Webster County Trojans faced off against the Union County Braves in the 1st Round of the 6th District Tournament at Trojan Gym in Dixon.

 

In the opening period, the Trojans outscored the Braves 13-9, as Trojan junior guard Evan Michalek scored 6 points in the quarter. In the second period, the Trojans outscored the Braves 24-14, as junior guard Evan Michalek and Trojan junior forward Deshawn Murphy combined for 20 points in the quarter and the Trojans would have a 14 point lead at halftime with the score 37-23.

 

To begin the second half, the Trojans would outscore the Braves 27-12, as Trojan sophomore guard Micah Austin and junior forward Deshawn Murphy combined for 18 points in  the quarter as the Trojans would have a 64-35 heading into the fourth quarter. In the fourth and final period, the Braves would outscore the Trojans 22-14, but the Trojans would come away with a comfortable 21 point win over the Braves with the final score 78-57. The Trojans improve to (17-11) on the season while the Braves end the season with a (12-16) record.

 

The leading scorer for the Trojans was junior guard Evan Michalek with 25 points while shooting 4 for 6 from the three point line and grabbing 2 rebounds while also recording 3 blocks, 1 steal, and 1 block on the night. Junior forward Deshawn Murphy scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds while shooting 3 for 3 from the three point line and recording 5 assists and 1 steal. Junior forward Jarvis Starks-Scott contributed 9 points and 5 steals as well as 4 rebounds and 4 assists while sophomore guard Micah Austin tallied 7 points and 5 rebounds as well as 3 assists and 1 block. Junior guard Luke Garrard recorded 6 points and 5 rebounds while senior guard Markus Austin added 4 points and 4 rebounds. Freshman guard Trace Hardison tallied 3 points and 2 steals while freshman forward Sylas Gunn recorded 2 points. To round out the scoring for the Trojans, freshman guard Reid McDyer added 2 points on the night.

As a team, the Trojans were 10 for 21 (48%) from the three point line and shot 8 for 21 (38%) from the free throw line while grabbing 32 total rebounds while committing 13 turnovers on the night. The Trojans also recorded 16 assists, 12 steals, and 3 blocks.

 

The leading scorer for the Braves was senior guard Kris Hughes with 15 points and 7 rebounds while also recording 2 steals on the night. Senior guard Izaiah Manuel contributed 12 points and 4 rebounds while senior guard Moses Hancock scored 10 points and 2 rebounds. Senior guard Kanye Pollard tallied 8 points and 4 rebounds while junior guard Landon Jones recorded 6 points shooting 2 for 4 from the three point line. Junior guard Will Gentry added 2 points and 4 rebounds while sophomore forward Kamden Davis tallied 2 points. To round out the scoring for the Braves, freshman forward Cortayvion recorded 2 points and 2 rebounds on the night.

 

As a team, the Braves were 4 for 19 (21%) from the three point line and shot 11 for 22 (50%) from the free throw line while grabbing 36 total rebounds and committing 16 turnovers while also recording 11 assists and 7 steals on the night.  

 

Webster County Trojans Head Coach Ryan Haile was asked was how he felt like his team performed in the game and he responded with this, “I thought we performed pretty well, especially at the start of the game we were able to get stops on defense. We were able to limit them (Union County) to one shot which was our point of emphasis and play our game on offense.”

 

The Trojans will face off against the Henderson County Colonels in the 6th District Championship game on Thursday night, February 23th, at Trojan Gym in Dixon with the tip-off at 6:30 P.M.