Dodge City KS,

Giant Communications and JBN Telephone Company ROAD TO GLORY Presented by Giant Mobile on the MSC Sports Radio Network.

For the first time in program history, the Troy Lady Trojans will have some hardware to put in the trophy case at Troy High School. Troy bounced back from a semi-final loss to Centralia on Friday to collect their twenty-third win on the season, defeating Quinter 50-36 to place third in the 1A Division-1 girls state tournament on Saturday.

In the first quarter there was a burst of energy from the Trojans, winning the opening tip and Junior Harper Whetstine scoring the games first two points. She would grab another bucket in the games early moments to put Troy up 4-0 before Quinter would close the frame out on a 7-2 run including two triples to lead 7-6.

The Bulldogs would carry that momentum into the second frame, going on an 8-1 run to grab their largest lead of the game at 15-7. 28th year coach Derek Jasper would call a time-out for Troy and attempt to settle his troops down, and that they did. In a moment mid-way through the second, the Trojans looked tired and lethargic but whatever was said in that time-out would be the shot of addreneline this team needed. Troy would respond by closing out the second quarter on an 11-1 run and grab the lead by two at halftime 18-16.

From there it was all Troy, all the time. Being undersized, rebounding was going to be a key factor in this game and the Trojans dominated the glass the entire game. Outrebounding Quinter by six in the first half and winning the margin by eight for the game. Troy dominated the third stanza growing their lead to 35-24 as we headed to the fourth, led by Whetstine and Junior Alyson Grable who combined for 13 of the Trojan 17 in the quarter.

With eight minutes between Troy and history, a calm, cool and collected group grinded out the frame extending the lead to as many as 15 before an emphatic eruption from the Troy bench as they claimed their first ever top three finish in girls basketball, 50-36.

This game is always a tough game to play in. Coming off a tough semi-final loss just twenty-four hours prior, but this team knew what was at stake. The potential to elevate their story from a great team, to legendary. This season Troy won the NEKL title in their first season in the league, set a new record for most wins in a season (23), made it to the state tournament for the first time since 2002, won their first ever state tournament game vs Central Plains on Wednesday and now have their first trophy, a third place finish in 2025.

Whetstine led the team with an impressive 25 points, 5 assists, drew 11 fouls in the game going 11-14 from the free throw line and collecting three rebounds. A. Grable finished the game with 11 points and 7 rebounds, she was named the Citizens State Bank & Trust in Hiawatha Player to bank on. Senior Allie Franken finished her career with a great showing of 8 points and 11 rebounds, collecting 8 boards per game during the tournament. Senior Gracie Grable finished with 6 points and four assists while Senior Emersen Weber collected four rebounds in the game.

This team will go down in history for the Trojans and what a way to go out for Seniors Gracie Grable, Allie Franken, Macy Grable and Emerson Weber. Coach Jasper said they laid the foundation for this program along with Whetstine, A. Grable and Junior Nicole Judd. Congratulations to the Trojans for making history with their amazing run this year.