After trailing for all of the first quarter and all but the final second of the second quarter the Charles Henderson Trojans took an 18-17 lead into locker room for halftime and never looked back.

The Trojans opened the season with a 47-40 victory over the Ashford Yellow Jackets in the Enterprise High School Tip Off Tournament at Enterprise-Ozark Community College Monday.

“We are 1-0 and we needed that win,” CHHS head coach Carl Hollis said. “We need to play a little more aggressive on defense and we need to shoot the ball better.”

The Trojans led by as much as six late in the fourth quarter, but let Ashford tie the game with less than a minute remaining. Quez Hall and Daris Wilson went a combined 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in that final minute to nail down the win for the Trojans.

“I am glad they didn’t lay down and I am glad they pulled it out for the win,” Hollis said. “Our guys came out tight in the first half and we were not penetrating the gaps,” Hollis said. “We were just passing and nobody was trying to get to the hole. We just told them at halftime to pick it up and play ball. You have to push it up and down the court and take the shots and rebound the ball.”

The Trojans responded to what the coaches told them at the half by scoring 29 points in the second half after an 18-point first half. They also grabbed 43 rebounds as a team in the game.

Justin Davis led the Trojans with 16 points and six rebounds, including 14 of the Trojans 18 points in the first half. He also had one steal.

“Justin Davis rebounded strong and he played hard inside,” Hollis said. “He was open a lot and we went to him. We are going to have to go to him a lot this year because he is hard to stop from here. He does a good job for us and he will get better as the season progresses. Justin is one of those kids who works hard every day.”

Davis had a good night, but Hollis said the entire team had a good night.

“Pee Wee (Daris Wilson) did well handling the ball and running the court hard, Jabari Brown hit a few big threes for us and Steve Baker hit a big three for us,” Hollis said.

Hollis also spread the minutes around Monday night.

“You can either give the ball away because of fatigue or you can get some fresh legs in there,” he said.

Brown was the only other Trojan in double digits with 10 points. He added six rebounds and one steal. Wilson and Hall each had six points. Wilson also contributed nine assists, five rebounds and three steals. Hall had four rebounds.

Baker had three points, four rebounds, one steal and one assist. Courtney Brassell, Gestavious Barnes and Ramarko Fayson each had two points. Brassell had six rebounds and one steal and Barnes had three assists.

Up next for the Trojans is a game in Abbeville tonight. The JV girls tip off at 4:30 p.m.