By Mike Warren
After a season filled with lessons for a young Trenton Central team a year ago, their first game of the 2024-25 season handed another test and a valuable experience for Daryl Young Sr’s Tornadoes. Trenton, who once led by as many as 23 against Notre Dame on Tuesday night, saw their lead quickly dwindle to a two-possession game in the second half.
The High was back to playing their patented brand of full court, defense-to-offense basketball in the first half against the Irish, taking a 35-16 lead into the halftime locker room. The Tornadoes used full court pressure to hold Notre Dame to just four points in the first quarter, only allowing one field goal. In the first half it was the size and length of the Tornadoes that affected almost every shot in the paint from the Irish. The six-foot-seven-inch senior Markeese Dowling swatted four shots alone in the first two periods.
In the second half, however, Notre Dame flipped the switch and gave the Tornadoes a taste of their own medicine. Using defense to fuel live ball run outs, the Irish ended the third quarter on a 16-2 run to make it a two-possession game going into the final quarter.
Ultimately, it was the balanced scoring effort that led Trenton to their first victory of the season with their backcourt of Juan Sanchez and Thomas Munoz combining for 23 of Trenton’s 55 points. Leading the Tornadoes in the win with a double-double was senior forward Qadir Dixon, who finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Junior wing Aivaye Ingram tacked on 12 points as one of three tornadoes who scored double-figures.
Notre Dame was paced offensively by junior guard Will Foley with 23 points, a new season high. Senior forward Josh Gatete scored 10 for the Irish including one of their three made triples. The Tornadoes were able to hold on down the stretch to secure a 55-50 victory over Notre Dame to begin the season 1-0 and drop the Irish to 2-1. You can catch Notre Dame back in action on WBCB again this week on Thursday night, as they travel to Steinert to take on the Spartans at 7:00 with pre-game coverage beginning tentatively at 6:45.
