MA-TPS: Trinity holds off Eagles for key 3A, Area 6 win

MA’s Seth Edwards scores over Trinity’s John Morris in Friday’s game at Joe Mooty Court. (Ryan Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

It was the type of physical play that can lend itself to a defensive struggle. But five 3-pointers by Trinity in the second quarter shifted all the momentum to the Wildcats.

In the end, Montgomery Academy would fight back late to make it close, but Trinity was able to hang on for a 74-68 win in front of an overflow crowd at Joe Mooty Court in the annual Coaches vs. Cancer Classic on Friday night.

“In the first half, we were playing as good as we have played all year,” Trinity coach Matt Arrighi said. “Our defense was more aggressive which, to us, when our defense is more aggressive, we play better on offense. Now, we were shooting lights out, even more so than usual. In the second half, it was just a grind.”

The win allowed Trinity (15-6) to pull back into the 3A Area 6 race at 2-2, tied with Montgomery Academy (10-9) for second place behind St. James (4-0), which defeated Alabama Christian (0-4) on Friday. The area wraps up next week as Trinity travels to Alabama Christian on Tuesday and to St. James on Friday, while Montgomery Academy plays host to St. James on Tuesday and travels to Alabama Christian on Friday.

“The area is still wide open,” Arrighi said. “Everybody still has a shot at winning the area. Even after we started the area 1-2, we were frustrated but it didn’t change the fact that we still felt good about our team.”

The physical style of play left both sides unhappy with the officiating as 55 personal fouls were called on the two teams.

“They play up and down and, because of the game, we had to play up and down so that lends itself to more fouls,” Montgomery Academy coach Jeremy Arant said. “The crazy part is, they called 55 fouls and they didn’t call a very good game. And that’s on both sides. He (Arrighi) wasn’t happy, I wasn’t happy.”

Trinity’s Mac Stewart hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to break a 10-10 tie at the end of the first quarter, but the Wildcats were just heating up. The aggressive pressure on defense led to transition baskets, but Trinity connected from the outside as well, with Stewart hitting three 3-pointers -- including another buzzer-beater -- and Chapman Pouncey adding two more for a stunning 45-20 lead at the half.

“What we’re doing has them on their heels, but I think subconsciously, as a player, you’re thinking we have a 25-point lead,” Arrighi said. “I thought as the second half progressed, we got more passive. We probably waited a little too long to get out of the press but we had to get out of it because we had lost our aggressiveness and it was hurting us.”

Perhaps, but Trinity couldn’t continue to hit shots at the same pace and Montgomery Academy struggled to hit shots all night, leaving the Eagles with a 20-point deficit with less than six minutes left. They continued to ship away. A little over a minute later, Montgomery Academy had cut the deficit to 12 points and Trinity started working on the clock. The Eagles pulled within seven points with 1:48 remaining, but could get no closer until the final seconds. 

“We didn’t shoot real good, inside or outside,” Arant said. “They put a lot of pressure on us early. They did a good job and we didn’t handle it real well. And they made a bunch of shots in the first half, which put our guys back on their heels a little bit but they fought and fought and fought and we were right there at the end, with a chance to win. If we shoot a little better at the free-throw line, we might win.”

Montgomery Academy shot just 59.5 percent (22 of 37) at the free throw line. Trinity was able to put the game away in the fourth quarter, hitting 10 of 11 free-throw attempts, despite having both post players, Jackson Taylor and John Morris, in foul trouble for the second consecutive area game.

“We feel pretty good about some of our length but they’ve spent a lot of time on the bench in the last two area games and that’s difficult for us,” Arrighi said. “I’m really proud of the guys that are coming off the bench, that aren’t quite as long but they’re scrapping and they’re fighting and they’re doing all they can to do the best they can.”

Skyler Stovall led Montgomery Academy with 21 points, all in the second half, along with nine rebounds, four steals and a pair of assists. DJ Vinson added 18 points, 14 in the second half, along with 16 rebounds and five blocked shots. Cole Caddell chipped in 13 points and six rebounds and Seth Edwards added 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

Stewart led Trinity in scoring with 22 points, followed by Cal Bennett and Taylor with 13 points each and Pouncey with 10 points.

While the win was a huge one for Trinity’s confidence, it didn’t decide anything as both the Eagles and Wildcats are still in the area championship hunt with a week left to play.

 “A lot can still happen,” Arant said. “Both of us still have to play St. James, so there’s still a lot of stuff out there that can happen.”