Trinity slips past stubborn Bell

By Bruce Unrue

Special to the Star-Telegram

HURST -- Euless Trinity might have all but wrapped up a playoff spot with its 46-42 overtime victory over Hurst L.D. Bell on Friday, but it certainly wasn't easy.

Crosstown rivalry games rarely are.

The Trojans (15-13, 8-3 District 6-5A) had their hands full against a determined Bell squad, whose postseason prospects were severely damaged with the loss.

Bell (15-14, 5-6) would need to sweep its final three district games and get some help. The foursome of Trinity, Irving MacArthur (19-8, 9-2), Colleyville Heritage (19-9, 8-3) and Grapevine (20-10, 8-3) appear to have the four 6-5A playoff spots wrapped up.

But getting to this point was a battle for the Trojans. Trinity had to fight back from a seven-point deficit going into the final quarter, then needed a pair of clutch free throws in the final seconds of regulation to reach overtime before asserting itself in overtime.

After trailing 22-15 at halftime, the Trojans began working the ball inside to 6-10 post Myles Turner.

Turner scored all 10 Trinity points in the third quarter, then added six more points to start the fourth while Bell suddenly went cold. The Blue Raiders went almost five minutes without a basket, and the Trojans took their first lead, 33-32, with 3:46 left on a Maurice White basket inside.

Garrett Hammonds' 3-pointer with 1:26 remaining in regulation briefly regained the lead for Bell, but a pair of free throws from White with 5 seconds left sent the game to overtime.

After trading 3-pointers, Bell couldn't score again while Trinity got a tip-in from Turner and a pair of Adrian Wong free throws to pull away.

Turner led Trinity with a game-high 24 points.

Looking for comments?