Trojans capture title with unthinkable comeback

Tyson Brear, Nathan Jenner, Dustin Anthony and Alex Kariuki(left to right) pose for a championship photo. Photo by Chris Dawson.

The West Ferris Trojans are once again NDA Senior Boys Basketball Champions after overcoming an 18 point deficit at half time to win 80-70 in overtime over the Chippewa Raiders at a rocking West Ferris Gymnasium on Monday night.

The victory gave the Trojans a 2 game sweep of the best-of-three NDA Senior Boys Basketball final. The Trojans took game one of the series at Chippewa 50-34 on Saturday night.

For Trojans head coach Larry Tougas it was a championship victory he will never forget.

“I almost shed a tear today,” said Tougas.

“I can’t believe what we just did out there these kids deserve all the credit, the coaching staff just cheered.”

The Raiders came out strong in the first half while the Trojans came out flat. Trojans leading scorer Dustin Anthony was nearly held pointless in the first half as he scored only one basket and missed two foul shots.

The first half did have its controversy as Raiders guard Brandon Brown was forced to leave the game after receiving a shot to the mouth that coach Tim Simpson says cost him nearly his entire row of bottom teeth.

“When you lose your best player it’s a hard thing to overcome,” said Raiders head coach Tim Simpson.

“The kids played awesome tonight, Ferris made a great run and it was a great game and full marks to them.”

The Trojans started to cut into the Raiders lead in the third quarter where they outscored the visitors 13-6 thanks to 10 points from Morgan Brown alone in the third to make it 52-41.

In the fourth quarter the Trojans started to take over for good starting off with a huge three pointer from Morgan Brown to set the tone for the incredible comeback. When the dust had settled it was an Alex Kariuki foul shot with 1:04 to play that evened the score at 68-68 and the game was headed for overtime.

With starters Jamie Stamler and Kyle Glass fouled out and Brandon Brown getting stitched up, the Raiders had to rely on their backups to stave off the rolling Trojans in overtime.

“We are a team with a ton of injuries and depth was a problem for us and it showed,” Simpson said about his injury riddled team that was without Rob Trenker for most of the season.

“We got some young guys in there that tried hard and played really well they just couldn’t bring it home in overtime.”

In the extra time Kariuki and Anthony dominated as the Trojans outscored the inexperienced Raiders backups 12-2 in the four minute overtime period.

“It was the best feeling I ever had after winning that championship,” said Trojans Dustin Anthony, who finished the game with a team high 24 points, while Kariuki chipped in with 22.

The Raiders were led offensively by David Greco with a game high 31 points.