Trinity boys basketball team looks at missed opportunities
This might end up being the season Trinity boys basketball players look back at as the season that could have been. The Trojans finished the district season on a three-game slide, and their postseason hopes rest in the hands of another team.
The Trojans happen to be the team with a bye in the final round of 7-6A play, so Trinity closed out its district schedule last Friday in a 70-63 overtime loss at Richland. It will be the end of the Trojans’ season if L.D. Bell wins against Southlake Carroll on Tuesday (results came after the press deadline, check dfwvarsity.com for scores). However, if Carroll defeats Bell, the Raiders and Trojans will be tied in fourth place at 5-7 and meet for a third time this season, with the winner headed into the playoffs.
“Both of our games this year had packed houses. They’ve both been fairly good games,” Trinity coach Mark Villines said. “Add the extra component in of winner is in, loser is out, and it would be a memorable moment for the kids, I’m sure.”
How Trinity got here is no mystery; the team has failed to close out games. Three district losses came by a single point. Two came in overtime.
“It’s just been bad decisions by the players, including me,” junior guard Devin Newton said. “We just have to learn from it. Our team is a little young. The more we learn from it, the better we’ll be.
“It’s a little frustrating because I know we’re way better than what we’re showing right now,” he added. “I feel that we shouldn’t be having to wait for a playoff spot.”
The loss to Richland was in many ways a microcosm of the season. Trinity led with under 15 seconds, but fouled the Rebels’ C.J. Roberts on a desperation three-point attempt. Roberts missed the first free-throw, but a lane violation gave him another opportunity, and Roberts drained all three to force overtime.
In the overtime session, both Newton and Trojans’ leading scorer Jhivvan Jackson fouled out as Richland pulled away.
“We made some mistakes and squandered a lead,” Villines said. “There are some valuable lessons we can learn from it. We practice those situations and hope they’ll pay off.”
Newton insists the team will be ready if given a second chance at a postseason berth.
“We’ll be hungry for that win,” he said. “This would be my first year not making the playoffs so I would have something to play for if we get that play-in game.”
If Bell punches its own ticket on Tuesday, though, Newton is already looking ahead to next year.
“It’s frustrating, but we’re learning from it and it will make us a better team next year. We have a lot people coming back,” he said. “Our coach is a great coach. He’s teaching us the right way so we just have to make sure we listen to him and follow his directions and we’ll be better in the future.”
This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 8:17 PM with the headline "Trinity boys basketball team looks at missed opportunities."