Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
During the Downers Grove North Winter Classic Tournament last Saturday, the host Trojans squared off going head-to-head with the Romeoville Spartans.
The dynamic duo of the Trojans, senior guards Trey Boston (17 points) and Semaj Henderson (10 points, 9 rebounds) led the way to a 58-39 victory.
Senior guard Semaj Henderson walks the ball up the court against the Romeoville Spartans. (Photo by Ryan Ostry)
“That’s my brother,” Boston said of Henderson. “We’re together almost every day, at each other’s houses. If you see me you’re going to see him.”
Boston and Henderson have both been three-year varsity contributors for Jim Thomas’ squad, leading the way in the 2018-19 campaign with each of the three other starters being all seniors.
Senior guard Connor llyavi also chipped into the win with 13 points of his own, with nine points coming in the first quarter.
The Trojans and Spartans went back-and-forth the majority of the first quarter, with the Trojans having a three-point advantage, leading 18-15.
Much of the fast pace transition game occurred similarly in the second quarter, with North heading into halftime up by a score of 34-24.
Even though North had the momentum going into halftime, coach Thomas knew that his team couldn’t let up with three of the Trojans five losses on the season being by a combined 11 points,
“When we played [Lions Township] last Wednesday and four out of our last five possessions we had four seniors turn it over four out of five times,” Thomas said.
The Spartans were led by senior center Noah Ferrell (13 points) on the offensive side of the ball in the second half, but still found themselves down by 12 at the end of the third quarter.
North repeated much of its same play the first three quarters, locking down the Spartans offensive game plan the remainder of the team.
Romeoville shot just 27 percent from the charity stripe on the night, which head coach Marc Howard knows was key in his teams defeat.
“We struggled shooting the ball, we very much so struggled shooting free-throws and to be honest we just struggled in every fascist of the game tonight,” Howard said. “We have to go back to practice, clear our heads and get back on the grind.”
Besides Ferrell, Spartans other top threat senior guard Mike Salter was held to just 1-for-6 shooting on the night, as well as senior guard Destin Whitaker scoring just five points on 2-for-8 shooting.
“That was probably the most complete game we’ve played all year,” Thomas said. “Positive assist-to-turnover ratio; if we do that, we’ll be tough to beat in any gym.”