With 1:36 left in the season opener, the Troy Christian boys’ basketball team trailed by two looking for strong finish. The Eagles then closed the game on a 6-0 run to escape with a hard-fought 40-36 victory over New Bremen to earn their first win of the new season.
“It was a very good team win for us,” said Troy Christian coach Ray Zawadzki after the game. “We never really had the lead, and were down the majority of the game and the kids could have broken, but we persevered through the tough times for the win. They just kept pursuing the process and did the job tonight.”
In the closing minute, Jacob Brown recorded a steal for Troy Christian with the team trailing by two, and scored to tie the game at 36. The Eagles got the ball back and KC Kamentz hit a 10-footer with 47 seconds left to give the Eagles a two-point lead, their first advantage since the six minute mark of the opening quarter. After another defensive stop, Troy Christian sealed the game when Kamentz hit two more free throws to ice the win. It was the third consecutive win for Troy Christian over New Bremen.
Kamentz led the way for the Eagles (1-0) with 14 points, while Brown added 10 for the only two players in double figures for the host Eagles. Troy Christian was also with Luke Dillahunt, who was ill.
“We will be playing on a game by game situation,” Zawadzki said when asked about improvements needed for the next game. “We are still growing on defense, and had too many fouls tonight. We are just a step away from being a great defensive team. I know we only gave up 36 points, but I am striving for perfection.”
Troy Christian hosts Miami Valley on Friday night in their conference opener, and their 39-game league winning streak is on the line, The Eagles have won five consecutive league championships.
Troy Christian Girls- It was a good start for the Troy Christian Lady Eagles, as they won their first two games of the season last week and now prepare for the juggernaut of the league schedule tomorrow night, as they host perennial favorite Miami Valley.
The Eagles opened with a 51-15 victory over Jefferson, despite being without leader Meredith Haddad and top post player Hailey Peters.
Arden Kamentz led the way for the Eagles with 16 points and five rebounds, while Lauren Lavy added 13 points, six rebounds and six steals. Allie Kamentz added six points and two rebounds.
“We had some balanced scoring, and are a real young team,” said Troy Christian coach Dick Steineman. “They are working to become better players. We will be a work in process for the good part of the year, but they are getting better every day in practice and in every game.”
On Saturday, the Eagles came back and defeated Mississinawa Valley 42-32, as Arden Kamentz led with 10 points and seven rebounds, Lavy added eight points and 11 rebounds, with five steals. Lee scored eight points with seven rebounds and 4-4 from the line. Freshman Alli Kamentz added six points.
“We started out slow and it was a sluggish game,”Steineman said after his team led 7-5 after the opening quarter, and 23-15 at the half. “We didn’t shoot the ball well, we have to do a better job at the foul line (6-14).”
“Megan Haddad ran the point for us tonight, and was steady for us,” the coach added. “She is learning being only a sophomore and with kids out, we had to put her there. She really stepped up for us.”
The Eagles host Miami Valley tomorrow night, with the JV tip off set for 5:30, followed by varsity at 7 p.m.
{gallery}2015/12-02/TCBBB{/gallery}
