Rebounding has been an issue in all three of Trinity High School’s losses this season, and even in Wednesday’s 73-62 victory over Valley the Shamrocks were outrebounded 36-23.
So after his Shamrocks defeated Eastern 59-45 on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Republic Bank Louisville Invitational Tournament at Valley, coach Mike Szabo was pleased to see the following numbers in total rebounds – Trinity 30, Eastern 20.
Szabo said hitting the boards has been a focus in recent practices.
“Working on the skill of blocking out and trying to give them different strategies and techniques,” he said. “We’ve been working on it.”
Gabe Schmitt (14 points) and Jacob King (12 points) led the scoring column as Trinity (15-3) – No. 5 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings – advanced to face No. 11 Male (14-2) in Saturday’s 10 a.m. semifinal.
L.J. Harris – who joins David Burton as Trinity’s tallest starters at 6 feet 2 – posted 10 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
“He was active and gave good effort,” Szabo said. “He got his hands on a lot of balls and was a high-energy guy tonight. We needed that.”
Caleb Williams had 14 points and eight rebounds to lead Eastern (10-6). Kobey Jones pitched in 12 points.
The Shamrocks led 16-8 at the end of the first quarter and led by as many as 17, 47-30, early in the fourth.
On Saturday, Trinity will face a Male team that has enjoyed a resurgence under first-year coach Willie Feldhaus.
“I really like their team a lot,” Szabo said. “They’re tough, strong, big. That’s a tough matchup for anybody.”
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
EASTERN 8 12 10 15 – 45
TRINITY 16 13 13 17 – 59
Eastern (10-6) – Williams 14, Knight 2, Wyche 5, Jones 12, Rushin 3, Moore 7, Wright 2.
Trinity (15-3) – Burton 10, Harris 10, King 12, Schmitt 14, Burkman 3, King 5, Johnson 5.
3-point goals – Williams 2, Jones 2, Rushin; King, Schmitt 2, Burkman, King, Johnson.
