BLINN MEN’S BASKETBALL UPSETS #4 TRINITY VALLEY ON THE ROAD
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
The Blinn College men’s basketball team picked up a monumental victory Saturday.
The Buccaneers went on the road and rallied for a 64-57 Region 14 victory over No. 4 Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas.
The victory was notable for Blinn (9-6 overall 3-4 Region 14) for a myriad of reasons. The Cardinals entered the game on a strong 13-1 start to its year (including 6-0 in region play) after winning the NJCAA Division I national championship last season. Trinity Valley was also unbeaten on its home court for almost two years, with its previous setback in Athens coming on Feb. 17, 2024.
The Bucs also earned their first triumph against TVCC since a road win on Nov. 30, 2022.
“I give my guys a lot of credit for what they accomplished tonight,” Blinn head coach Scott Schumacher said. “Trinity Valley is a tremendous team, and they’re ranked where they are for good reason. So for our guys to go into Trinity Valley’s gym and get a win is just a testament to how they’ve hung in there, bought into what we’ve asked them to, and continued to get better every day.”
Blinn’s key to victory revolved around ball security and its ability to stall the Cardinals’ momentum. TVCC led by 10 points three times in the first half, but the Bucs clawed back each time to keep the game within striking distance.
The Cardinals led by no more than five points in the second half, allowing for Blinn’s game-changing run in the final 4:30 of play. Blinn helped its cause with just four turnovers in the second half.
With TVCC leading 50-47, freshman guard Connor Sprattley scored on a layup to ignite the Bucs’ 17-7 move. Following a defensive rebound on the other end, Blinn took the lead for good on another Sprattley layup.
Trailing 58-55 with 40 seconds to go, Trinity Valley was forced to foul, sending the Bucs to the line three times for six free throws. Sprattley, sophomore guard Dashawn Ceaser, and freshman guard Desmeon Jones each made two shots from the charity stripe to seal the win.
“One of the things we kept telling our players was ‘stick to the game plan,’” Schumacher said. “They did exactly what we asked them to do, and I think they’re starting to figure things out as a team and as basketball players. When we recruited them, we put an emphasis on high character and hard-working guys, and that’s what they are.”
Ceaser had a big night for the Bucs with 26 points, including three 3-pointers and an 11-for-13 performance from the free throw line. Sprattley and Jones added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Blinn will look to pick up its third consecutive region win when it hosts Angelina College at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas.