third for 61-45 tourney win

By STEVEN G. WATSON

Sports Editor

MILLBROOK ­ Halftime turn arounds don’t get much bigger than the one the Charles Henderson High School Trojans experienced against Wetumpka Saturday night.

In a 61-45 win over WHS for the Trojans that sealed up a spot in the Area Championship game and a Sub-Regional berth, comparing the final score and the halftime score says it all.

Charles Henderson was down to the No. 3 seeded Indians 33-20 after two quarters, but with a little fire in their bellies starting in the second half. The Trojans shredded the Wetumpka lead in a matter of minutes applying outstanding defensive pressure en route to a 14-2 run that lasted the entire third quarter.

"That third quarter really broke it open for us," CHHS wingman Rory Murphy said afterwards. "From then on we knew we had the game and we just had to flex out the defense, pressure and we got it down."

The Indians did hold a two-point lead heading into the fourth and final period, but the barrage of 3-pointers WHS had hit in the first half was non-existent in the second. The Trojans played their game to a tee forcing countless Wetumpka turnovers with their pressure defense and either getting easy buckets underneath or going to the free throw line.

CHHS hit 11-of-13 charity shots in the final period with Murphy leading the way with a perfect 6-of-6.

"This win took a lot of stress off of us," Murphy said. "We haven’t ever lost in the first game of the Area and it was a big relief for us. Now we’ve guaranteed ourselves at least two more games, but we want to come up Tuesday and bring the Sub-Regional back to Troy and keep going from there.

CHHS head coach Carl Hollis was disappointed in his squad’s effort after all was said and done. He felt that his team came in to calm from the beginning.

"We had to tighten it up or go home, it’s just that simple," Hollis said. "We still aren’t playing well. I don’t think we’re hungry enough yet. We’re not playing as well as we could be and for some reason we want to be laid back and that’s not what it’s all about during this time of year. As a coach it isn’t any fun coaching that style of basketball."

Murphy had 13 while Marcus Williams and Jermaine Jackson led the Trojans with 14 apiece.

The win puts the Trojans into the Area Championship against the host Stanhope Tuesday night at 7 p.m. A win would bring the Sub-Regional back to Troy while a loss would send the CHHS boys’ squad on the road.