by Anthony Robinson

The Atlantic Trojans boys basketball team hosted the Lewis Central Titans the night before classes resumed at AHS.  The game was a tale of two halves, with the Titans taking control of the first half, and the Trojans feeling all the momentum in the second half.  Despite the two week absence from game play,  the Trojans “played really hard,” according to assistant coach Trace Petersen.

Neither team was able to buy a bucket early in the game.   The Trojans and Titans were tied at four midway through the first quarter.  After a Lewis Central time out, the Titans broke open a 10-4 lead, causing coach Steve Blazek to call a time out.  Numerous turnovers and a lax of transition defense by the Trojans, led to the Titans 13-4 lead at the end of the first.

The Titans ended their run at 11-0 after a jumper just inside the arc by sophomore forward Dalton Franken.  The Trojans had great post defense by sophomore forward Harrison Hoegh throughout the quarter.  The Trojans went on a 7-0 run to pull withing four 15-11.  After two missed free throws by the Trojans, Lewis Central went on an 11-0 run to widen the margin.  Junior guard Blake Esbeck had eight of his 13 points in the second quarter for the Trojans.  The Titans led 30-18 at the half.  Minus the Trojans 7-0 run, the Titans controlled the momentum the entire first half.

At the beginning of the second half, the momentum was changing sides.  Franken completed a three-point play at the free throw line and hit a jumper in lane to score five quick points after a frustrating first half.   The Trojans trailed by only three after a three-p0int field goal by sophomore point guard Chad Christensen.   After the Titans built a ten point lead, the Trojans went on an 11-0 run, keyed by three three-point baskets, to take the lead 42-41.  The Titans were able to hit a field goal at the end of the quarter, to take a 43-42 lead into the fourth and final quarter.

After the Titans took a 48-42 lead, Franken scored five consecutive points for the Trojans to close the gap to one.  After shared baskets between the two teams,  junior forward Gunnar Blum had a strong move inside to tie the game at 51 with 1:25.   The Trojans were unable to get back on defense and let the Titans hit an easy lay-up to re-gain the lead.

Senior guard Luke Norville hit one of two free throws to take a 54-51 lead.   Blum took another strong move to the basket, to pull within one, 54-53 with 18.1 seconds remaining in the game.

Sophomore guard Sam Markham took a strong move to the bucket and hit a  runner to take a 55-54 with little time remaining.  The Titans called a quick time out to call up a play.  The clock showed less than a second to play in the game, but after discussion,   the referees put two seconds back on the clock.  These seconds were just enough for the Titans.  Senior guard Nate Connealy hit a three-point field goal from just across half court as time expired, to spoil the Trojans win.  The Titans won 57-55.

The Titans were led by Norville with 17 points.

The Trojans were led by Franken with 17 points.

The Titans won despite shooting only four for eight from the free throw line.

The Trojans host the Denison Monarchs Friday night, in a Hawkeye 10 conference match-up.