The East Lansing Trojans beat the Holt Rams (65-56) in their conference home game Monday night. An intense, neck-and-neck first quarter tied the two teams at 15. Cameron Hutson put up the first bucket and 3-pointer of the night for East Lansing, less than a minute in. Brian Windham Jr. followed with a turnover for a wide-open layup. Both teams made sure to take every shot when it came to scoring. Christian Dunn with a floatie to keep the Trojans active in scoring. Cameron Essell followed with back-to-back 3-pointers.
DOUBLE THE TROUBLE
The Trojans struggled to get on the board in the second quarter, allowing the Rams to lead by 5. Not too far after the Trojans were back in the game after two free throws. East Lansing was able to gain a three-point lead twice during the third quarter; 28-25 with about four minutes left in the quarter and then again leading 30-27 with less than a minute left. Both teams illustrated heavy defense and scoring abilities ending another close quarter tied. By halftime, the teams were tied at 30 and a game that may have seemed to be in the Trojans’ favor, could easily be claimed by either.
THREE’S A CHARM
East Lansing started the third quarter off strong with their highest lead being 14. Hutson managed to score an open dunk. This quarter, it was the Rams that struggled with scoring; Joseph Martinez put up their first 3-point field goal of the quarter with three minutes and 30 seconds left on the clock. Martinez’s shot helped to bring their deficit down by three, but the Trojans continued to collect buckets which quickly brought the Rams’ shortage up by another six. The third quarter ended 49-37, East Lansing.
GOING OUT WITH A BANG
Within the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, the Rams managed to get their shortfall down to eight. With less than four minutes left of the game, the Trojans secured an 18-point lead, their highest of the night. Noah Lopez ended their scoring of the night with a dunk.
The Trojans now 17-2, are ranked #2 by MaxPreps MHSAA State Rankings, right behind St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake). East Lansing will be facing off against Dewitt in another home game on Friday. Dewitt is 11-7 and ranked #80 by MaxPreps. Friday just so happens to be senior night for the Trojans, so the game should be packed, and East Lansing will have hundreds of fans cheering them on.
Photo: Zoe Ruffin
