Trojans Basketball Hoping To Soar To Unfamiliar Heights

Trenton High School's varsity boys head coach Rick Morrow summarized the anticipation for the upcoming basketball season in one sentence.

"We have the chance to give Trenton something they haven't seen in a long time and that's a winning basketball team."

They certainly have the makings to do it. Seven players from last season return for Morrow including all its starters from the team that made a surprising run to the district championship game before losing a close game to Taylor Kennedy. If nothing else, they'll have size.

Some key returns for the Trojans are junior forward Terez Smith (6'7), senior shooting guard Chad Hamilton (6'3), junior forward Dan Hall (6'6), and junior Jason Zoran (6'3). Other players who will play a big role for the blue and gold are senior shooting guard Matt Hebda (6'7), senior combo guard Norvis Smith (6'3), senior guard Ryan VanNieuckuyck (6'4), and senior point guard Michael Czarnecki (5'7).

"In all the years I've been here, I've never seen the commitment and dedication shown in the off season," Morrow said. "In the weight room, conditioning, and seven played AAU all summer."

The Trojans, losing only three players to graduation, will once again hope to contend in the Downriver League which will include league favorites Truman, Lincoln Park and Melvindale.

Experience will be a huge factor for the team, which has high hopes to bring the school a winning basketball season for the first time in several years. Morrow said the unfamiliar territory will be his team's greatest weakness.

"We're going to have to learn how to win," Morrow said. "We have given away so many games around here and we're going to have to learn how to pull out wins."

Tryouts start Monday and they open the season at home against Thurston on December 6.