Trimble seniors shine against South Gallia in final regular season game
By: Andrew Woods
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GLOUSTER, Ohio (WOUB) – Seniors McKenzie Eing and Rilynn Fouts have led the Trimble Tomcats (12-8) for years. On senior night, Trimble needed their leadership more than ever because the Tomcats were riding a four-game losing streak into their matchup with South Gallia (13-6). Although Trimble had a slow start, the Tomcats found a spark in the second quarter and turned it into a monster 18-0 run. Trimble rode the big run to take a 52-39 win.
Trimble got off to a slow start in the first quarter. The Tomcats made many little mistakes, such as turnovers and missed shots, while South Gallia took advantage of fast breaks and Trimble’s mistakes to go on a 13-4 run. However, Fouts found some space under the basket and closed the gap to 13-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Trimble continued to find space under the basket early in the second quarter. However, South Gallia found success at the free throw line and from beyond the arc. Lyla Swain and Jacie Booth both hit threes to extend South Gallia’s lead to 22-14 late in the second quarter.
Down eight points, Trimble needed a spark, and Laken Smathers provided it by making Trimble’s first three of the game. Just after that, Fouts converted an and-one to reduce South Gallia’s lead to two points at halftime.
Those six points proved to be a turning point in the game, thanks to a lockdown defense and balanced offense. Trimble extended their 6-0 run from the end of the second quarter to a 16-0 run.
Fouts said after the game that after the second half surge, she felt Trimble “started to really focus.” She added that Trimble had to “start playing more aggressive” and “get better on defense” because they were letting South Gallia drive into the paint too much in the first half.
Even though South Gallia got on the board midway through the third quarter, the Tomcats continued to pile on the points. Trimble ended the quarter up 32-24, powered by a 21-3 run that began in the second quarter.
In the fourth quarter, South Gallia threatened, but Eing stepped up to close the game out. Eing scored ten of Trimble’s 15 points in the quarter, which was enough to lead Trimble to a decisive 52-39 win.
Eing did not just put on a show late. She led all scorers with 20 total points while adding nine rebounds. Those rebounds included Eing’s 500, which she grabbed in the first half.
Eing mentioned that on the milestone play, she knew she “had to come in there and just box out and get the rebound and not worry about nothing else.”
Although the regular season is not over yet, both Trimble and South Gallia are looking forward to a possible rematch in the tournament. As long as the Tomcats and Rebels take care of their opponents in the district quarterfinals, they will play each other in the semifinals.
Trimble head coach Josh Lavy is confident that Trimble can win the rematch. He said after the game “I think we can beat them the same way we did here. We just got to take care of the ball.” Lavy also said that “we just got to execute on offense.”
Before that game, Trimble will prepare for the playoffs by visiting Bishop Rosecrans on Friday, while South Gallia will look to get back on track against Western on Thursday.