By Dan Truttschel
Sports Correspondent
Whether the East Troy boys basketball team can make another long run into the post-season with plenty of new faces remains to be seen.
But one things is certain, and that’s the Trojans never will back down from a challenge.
East Troy, a Division 3 state qualifier last year, hosted Stoughton, which advanced to Madison in Division 2, in a non-conference contest Saturday night, and while the Trojans came up short, they showed they still can compete.
Stoughton outscored the Trojans 20-12 in a key fourth quarter to finally pull away for a hard-fought 51-44 victory. The loss dropped East Troy to 5-3 overall, while the Vikings improved to 7-1
“We competed like crazy against an extremely solid program in Stoughton,” East Troy coach Darryl Rayfield said. “They are a tem on the rise for sure.
“We felt like let that one get away after leading the whole game. Some nights you just are not going to shoot it well or score like you are capable. That was the case (Saturday).”
The Trojans made just four of 18 attempts from behind the 3-point arc and were 12 for 50 overall from the field.
“That about sums up why we lost,” Rayfield said. “At times, we need to pass up average to good shots for great shots.
“We settle for first and second looks and didn’t get action on ball reversals. That will be a very high priority as we move forward. It is nothing we haven’t been working through, but it still needs to be better.”
East Troy jumped out to an early 13-6 lead after eight minutes before Stoughton rallied to cut the deficit to three points by halftime. The Vikings trimmed two more points off the Trojans’ lead in the third quarter to set up their big fourth quarter run.
Jacob Growel led the Trojans with 15 points, followed by Matt Kaminski with 11 and Connor Mitchell with 10. Will Iloncaie, who entered the game averaging 12.8 points a game, was held to five.
Iloncaie worked hard on the defensive end, which may have kept his scoring down, Rayfield said.
“We are putting a lot on Will on both ends (of the floor), and it takes its toll offensively as the game goes on,” he said.
The same could be said for Growel, who guarded Stoughton’s 6-foot-8 standout, Nick McGlynn, Rayfield said.
“Jake guarded (him) well,” Rayfield said. “I couldn’t have been prouder of him with that, but that, too, takes a toll on the other end (of the floor).”
Troy Slaby led Stoughton with 16 points, followed by Paul Rosowski with 13 and McGlynn with 12.
The Trojans’ defense, which has been a work in progress with so many new faces this year, continued to improve a bit Saturday night, Rayfield said.
“We are getting better,” he said. “Our ability to defend in that particular game gave us opportunities to win. I’m very excited about that.”
At Whitewater Thursday
East Troy takes its 3-2 Rock Valley Conference record into a road matchup Thursday night at Whitewater (3-5 overall, 3-2 RVC).
Rayfield said the plan is to just continue building as the second half of the season unfolds.
“We are looking forward to the second half of the season,” he said.
“Finding more depth is absolutely going to be essential because of our size and the way we need to score. The door is open for all our players to run with it.”
