After a heartbreaking loss to Cherokee Trail, the Boys’ Hoop Squad looks forward to playing the Patriots on Friday.
Photo by Ed Gloor
TJ lost to Cherokee Trail 71-70 in the second meeting of these teams this season; TJ prevailed by one point in the first match-up, 51-50.
TJ lead at the end of each quarter on Saturday, only to be outscored by eight points in the fourth, and lose by one point. TJ was glad to have forward Eric Andres on the floor after an apparent knee injury, and he lead the team with 20 points and four steals. TJ neutralized the big men of Cherokee Trail, forcing the issue to the floor for the Cougars, putting their shots away from the basket. The Cougars beat the Spartans from the free throw line, though. They shot 28 free throws and made 20 of them, a great percentage from what TJ has seen before.
Fans and players were disheartened after the loss. Longtime TJ Teacher and Spartan Sports Enthusiast Rose Young said, “I was unhappy. We gave up the ball multiple times at the end, and that is what did us in.” The Spartans shouldn’t be too unhappy after this performance, though. They played the most efficient offense all season, and had a good field goal percentage of 59% and four of the five starters were in double digit scoring.
The next game of the season is arguably the biggest for the team, the home game against George Washington. The last two years, George has jumped out to an early lead against the Spartans, and TJ hasn’t been able to make a comeback. This will be the first time TJ has hosted George in four years.
This year looks to be another fight for these two teams. The Patriots are coming into the game on a six game losing streak and averaging a lowly 39 points during the losing streak. The leading scorer of the Patriots is Guard TreVante O’Neal with 14.5 points and three assists.
This will be a pack the house night for TJ, and they want to fill the stands for not only the Boys’ game at 5:30 p.m. but the Girls’ game as well, which plays right after the boys at 7 p.m.
| TJ @ Green Mountain | Monday Dec. 5th | 7:00pm | W – 54-53 |
| TJ @ Heritage HS-Tip-Off Classic vs. Cherokee Trail | Wednesday Dec. 7th | 7:00pm | W – 51-50 |
| TJ @ Heritage HS-Tip-Off Classic vs. Grand Junction | Friday Dec. 9th | 7:00pm | W- 58- 44 |
| TJ @ Heritage HS-Tip-Off Classic vs. TBA | Saturday Dec. 10th | TBA | L-68- 55 |
| TJ @ Chaparral | Tuesday Dec. 13th | 7:00pm | L-74- 60 |
| TJ @ Cherry Creek HS-Holiday Classic vs. Legend | Monday Dec. 19th | 5:00pm | W 57-53 |
| TJ @ Cherry Creek HS-Holiday Classic vs. Arapahoe | Tuesday Dec. 20th | 5:00pm | L 73-65 |
| TJ @ Cherry Creek HS-Holiday Classic vs. Columbine | Wednesday Dec. 21st | 1:30pm | L 56-51 |
| TJ @ Cherry Creek HS-Holiday Classic vs. TBA | Wednesday Dec. 21st | TBA | L 64-49 |
| D’Evelyn @ TJ | Wednesday Jan. 4th | 7:00pm | L 81-59 |
| Rock Canyon @ TJ | Friday Jan. 6th | 7:00pm | W 82-68 |
| Columbine @ TJ | Saturday Jan. 7th | 1:00pm | L 74-52 |
| TJ @ Highlands Ranch | Tuesday Jan. 10th | 7:00pm | L 61-53 |
| Aurora Central @ TJ | Thursday Jan. 12th | 7:00pm | W 66-61 |
| Cherokee Trail @ TJ | Saturday Jan. 14th | 1:00pm | L 71-70 |
| George Washington @ TJ | Friday Jan. 20th | 5:30pm | |
| Kennedy @ TJ | Tuesday Jan. 24th | 7:00pm | |
| TJ @ Denver East | Thursday Jan. 26th | 5:30pm | |
| Denver South @ TJ | Friday Feb. 3rd | 5:30pm | |
| Montbello @ TJ | Thursday Feb. 9th | 7:00pm | |
| TJ @ Denver West | Friday Feb. 10th | 5:30pm | |
| TJ @ Lincoln | Tuesday Feb. 14th | 7:00pm | |
| Denver North @ TJ | Friday Feb. 17th | 5:30pm |
