Game #15—January 16, 2018
“Troy Story” bombs at box office when Spartans lose large lead
Francis Howell Central 20 16 13 3 = 52
Troy Buchanan 10 9 22 16 = 57
When the Spartans held a 19-point lead early in the third quarter, the Trojans chances of winning appeared as low as the morning temperatures that closed schools throughout the Westplex. Sadly the Trojans rallied and handed the Spartans their first conference loss of the season.
The game started promising for the Spartans as Myles Estrada sank a 3-pointer just nine seconds past tipoff. Later his steal led to a Rico Coleman basket and 5-3 lead. Consecutive triples from Terron Robinson and Rico Coleman broke a 5-5 tie. Rico would later recover a bad pass and score for a 13-8 lead. Adam Lewis maintained the five-point lead with a putback. A Kaleb Anderson 3-pointer and second Adam Lewis putback extended the Spartan lead to 20-10 as FHC scored the last seven points of the opening period.
The Spartans run continued into the second quarter. Terron Robinson dropped a 3-pointer for a 23-12 lead, then Kaleb Anderson sank a trey following a Jordan Hayden steal. Adam Lewis scored for a 28-14 lead and Myles Estrada extended the Spartan advantage to 17 with his second 3-pointer. The Trojans scored the game’s next four points. Rico Coleman sank two free throws and Kaleb Anderson completed a traditional 3-point play for a 36-18 lead.
Early signs in the third quarter appeared promising for the Spartans. Rico Coleman sank two more free throws just 13 seconds into the period for the Spartans largest lead of the game at 38-19. Troy scored the next four points, but Kaleb Anderson then scored for a 40-23 lead. Two more Rico Coleman baskets put FHC up 44-28 with 5:16 remaining in the third quarter. The first sign of trouble came when the Trojans responded with a 10-0 run to pull within six. The Spartans responded with a Kaleb Anderson putback and Terron Robinson trey to reestablish a 49-38 lead with 1:45 left. FHC still held a 49-41 lead when the third-period buzzer sounded.
Trouble continued to find the Spartans in the fourth quarter as the Trojans continued their rally. Todd Myers dropped a 3-pointer to slice the Spartans lead to 49-46 with 6:53 left. Jim King sank two free throws to pull the Spartans within one. During a run of seven consecutive Spartan turnovers, Jim King stole the ball and sank two free throws to put Troy ahead 50-49, the first time the Spartans had trailed the entire game. The Trojans continued their run to 16 points and a 54-49 lead before Myles Estrada sank a 3-pointer for the lone Spartan points of the period.
Rico Coleman finished with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Kaleb Anderson added 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Terron Robinson contributed 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. Myles Estrada totaled 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. Adam Lewis scored a season-high 6 points and dished 3 assists.
The Trojans improved to 8-7 overall and 2-2 in the GAC South while the Spartans fell to 7-8 overall and 2-1 in the conference. After 15 games of traveling across the St. Louis metropolitan area, from Troy to Hillsboro, from Washington to Ladue, the Spartans will play their home opener on Friday, January 19, hosting Fort Zumwalt West at 7 pm.