THRALL — The Thrall Tigerettes varsity basketball team earned a decisive 51-23 victory over the Troy Trojans on Friday, Dec. 19, using a dominant first half to pull away early.
Thrall set the tone defensively from the opening tip, holding Troy to just nine points in the first two quarters while building a commanding 34-9 halftime lead.
Thrall jumped out quickly in the first quarter as seniors Kinley Hoffman and Nevaeh Irvin each connected on 3-pointers to give the Tigerettes an early 8-3 advantage.
The defense followed, forcing turnovers and limiting Troy’s scoring opportunities. Hoffman capped the quarter with a steal and fast-break basket, helping Thrall take a 19-4 lead heading into the second period.
Hoffman continued to control the game in the second quarter, opening the scoring with another 3-pointer to make it 22-4. She added a second triple moments later as the Tigerettes stretched the lead to 26-4.
Hoffman stayed aggressive on both ends of the floor, finishing the half with a fastbreak layup to push the advantage to 30-7 with 2:25 remaining before halftime.
With a sizable cushion, Thrall maintained its defensive intensity in the second half while spreading scoring opportunities across the lineup. The Tigerettes outscored Troy 9-6 in the third quarter and finished the game with an even 8-8 fourth quarter, never allowing the Trojans to gain momentum.
Hoffman led Thrall in scoring and continued her strong early-season performance, also contributing multiple steals on the defensive end.
Irvin’s early shooting helped spark the Tigerettes’ offense, while the team’s overall defensive pressure played a key role in the lopsided win.
With the victory, Thrall improved to 10-8 overall and 0-1 in district play. The Tigerettes will break for the holidays before returning to action at the Clifton Holiday Tournament beginning Dec. 29.
Thrall Tigerettes senior guard Kinley Hoffman looks for a steal in a victory over Troy on Friday, Dec. 19. Photo by Larry Pelchat
