On Thursday, Feb. 2, the Trojan basketball team traveled to Carroll to take on the Kuemper Knights for the second time this season. In the first go-around, the Trojans fell to the Knights 67-73.

The Knights are ranked #2 in class 2A in Iowa, and are said to be the team’s “toughest test of the season” according to head coach Alan Jenkins.

The Trojans and the Knights went back and forth in the first quarter, keeping the scores close. By the end the Knights were leading 19-14.

In the second, the Trojans found themselves trailing by a little more over the quarter. By halftime the Knights were ahead 40-25.

The Trojans came out of the locker room well improved, and cut down the lead to only ten points in the first minutes. The Trojans trailed 40-30.

Senior Garrett Franken scored a three bringing the gap down to seven points followed by a Kuemper timeout.

By the end of a huge third quarter for the Trojans, they only trailed 51-52.

In the fourth the team seemed to lose their momentum resulting in a Trojan loss, 57-72.

Head coach Alan Jenkins said, “We played inconsistently throughout the game. We had some really good segments, and then some others where we lacked execution. Halftime adjustments by our guys were executed very nicely.  This team has a lot of belief in one another. We didn’t rebound the basketball at the level we wanted. I thought we got pushed around a little bit from a physicality stand point that is uncharacteristic of who we are. Scott Leonard went toe-to-toe with one of the best big men in the state. His growth has been outstanding to watch.”

The team’s record is now 12-5.

The leading scorers of the night were Franken with 25, and Scott Leonard with 12.

Their next game is Monday at home against Creston.