Defending champs end Blazers’ season

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ARCANUM — National Trail girls basketball had its season come to a close with a 45-16 loss to three-seed Versailles in the opening round of the playoffs at Franklin Monroe High School on Saturday, Feb. 13.

“It was definitely a tough game for us. Versailles is a very, very, good team that is defending state champs,” said Trail head coach Troy Ferguson.

Trail was held scoreless after one quarter of play as the Tigers jumped out to an 11-0 lead to start the contest. They were unable to get on the board until about mid-way through the second when a trey landed them at 13-3. But the three-pointer was all the Blazers would muster in the first half and went into the break at a 26-3 deficit.

Trail managed 13 points in the second half but the game was well out of reach by then. They finish the year at 6-17 overall.

“We didn’t have as much success as we would have liked to, but this team fought through adversity all season with injuries and with the youth. They gained valuable experience for the next couple of years,” said Ferguson.

Trail was led by JaLynn Byrd who posted six points, four rebounds, and one assist. Payten Laird added three points and six rebounds while Miranda Mize also chipped in three points. Evan Byrd and Gracie Jones both had two points apiece on the day.

The Blazers graduate two seniors, losing Katie Stan and Mize for next season.

“(Stan) saw her role expand as the season progressed with her play, and (Mize) leaves us as a four year starter and has done a lot of things to help our program. She is a tough kid, a competitor –shown by her willingness and toughness to play with a torn ACL the second half of this season.”

By Jeremy Erskine

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Reach Jeremy at 937-683-4061 or on Twitter @jerskine_RH.

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