Stoney Creek rallies past Troy
BY JAKE LOURIM
STUDENT CORRESPONDENT
j.lourim@comcast.net
ROCHESTER HILLS — Though it toted a three-game losing streak into a top team’s home gym Tuesday, things looked okay for a while for the Troy girls’ basketball team.
Rochester Stoney Creek made sure they didn’t end up that way.
Troy took three key daggers in the second half, spoiling a double- double from sophomore forward Sydney Heath in a 52-43 OAA Red Division loss at Stoney Creek.
Troy (9-10, 4-9) started off in its aggressive full-court press, forcing 14 turnovers in the first half. The fast break allowed the Colts to carry a one-point lead into the locker room at halftime.
Heath and senior Karin Moss took turns shadowing Cougars’ sharpshooter Gabby Yurik, bottling her up to the tune of only three points in the first half.
Troy switched often between a man-to-man and 2-3 zone defense. Even in the zone, the Colts were quick enough to stymie shots from Stoney Creek.
“We mixed it up a little bit today,” Troy coach Dennis Koch said, “to give Stoney some different looks.
“Obviously, that was one of our focus points, but most of the game, we did a pretty good job of containing her.”
Unfortunately for Troy, Yurik struck at the most opportune times.
The game was decided in a stretch in the third quarter, a 12-0 run by Stoney Creek. The Cougars hit two 3-pointers, one by Yurik, and scored on the fast break. That made it 35-27, and the game was at its final margin when Stoney Creek hit its last 3-pointer early in the fourth.
Offensively, Troy struggled for most of the night. The 12-0 run left them with a near four- minute drought before Heath and junior Sabria Cotton scored in the last 25 seconds. Troy shot just 33 percent from the floor.
The Colts fought back in the fourth quarter, but didn’t have enough gas to pull of the rally, especially when Moss fouled out in the final moments. She was held scoreless.
Heath was a bright spot for Troy, though, with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
“Sydney worked hard. Defensively, she always plays great,” Koch said. “She’s a great kid with a great work ethic. I can’t say enough good things about her.”
Troy plays Clarkston tonight on Senior Night and could spoil the Wolves’ hopes of an outright league title with a win.
The Colts get a rematch with either Auburn Hills Avondale or Troy Athens Wednesday in the district tournament at Avondale at 5:30 p.m. The final is Friday.
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