The Las Animas Trojans have been truly battling for the past three weeks. Many of their games have been determined in the last minutes by a matter of points with different players stepping up each week to make a difference. This week was no exception.
In Hoehne on Jan. 29, the Trojans were looking to avenge last year’s home loss, and in the first quarter, they came out blazing. The Trojans put up 24 points in the quarter. Patrick Arrona who put up 18 in the campaign had 10 in the first quarter. They slowed down a bit in the second quarter, but went in to the locker room at half time with a 36-33 lead.
The second half saw more of the same scoring from both teams. Almost scoring at will, the Trojans scored 12 in the third quarter and Hoehne had 13. Going in to the fourth quarter, the Trojans still had the lead by two.
Hoehne went on a run which forced the Trojans to foul in the end of the quarter and allowed the Farmers to put up 30 in the fourth quarter. In the end, that run was too much and the Trojans fell to the Farmers 75-57.
There was no time for the Trojans to sulk as they hosted league rivals the Crowley County Chargers on Jan. 30. The game promised to be hard fought with league and district standing on the line.
The first quarter was mediocre scoring with the teams amassing 25 total points and the second quarter was a barn burner with the Trojans putting up 20 and the Chargers 16. At the half, Las Animas led 32-29.
With momentum on their side, the Trojans came out and continued to battle but only managed 11 in the third while the Chargers fought back scoring 16 for a 45-43 Charger lead going in to the fourth.
Unfortunately the fourth quarter belonged to the Chargers as they outscored the Trojans by three to win by a score of 68-53.
The Trojans are putting up more points this year than they have in past years. The maturity of key players is helping them to take better shots, and to be more confident on the floor. Leaders for the Trojans this week were Jeff Gonzales who scored 18 on the weekend, Patrick Arrona who put up 33, and Asa Brown who added 31.
The Trojans travel to Rocky Ford on Feb. 5 and to Walsenburg on Feb. 6. Game times are 7 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively.
