By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

CARROLLTON – The Troup Tigers played an inspired second half, but it wasn’t quite enough to defeat the home-standing Carrollton Trojans on Friday.

Troup, after falling behind by 17 points at the half, outscored Carrollton by nine points in the final two quarters on the way to a 62-54 setback.

Troup (5-4) fell to 1-1 in the Carrollton holiday tournament, and it will play Riverdale at 1:30 p.m. today in the third-place game.

Carrollton and Greenville will play for the tournament championship.

The tournament is being played at Carrollton High.

While disappointed with the loss, Troup head coach Blake Craft was encouraged with the way his players answered the bell in the second half.

“The first half, we got punched, and we didn’t react very well,” Craft said. “It was good for us to fact that test. I never like to lose, but the second half was something to build on.”

Senior guard Jarrious Jefferson continued his stellar play and scored 28 points.

“He took it to the next level,” Craft said. “He put the team on his back and helped carry us.”

In the opening half, Troup was having a difficult time finding the basket, and it trailed 34-17 at the break.

The second half was a different story, with Troup outscoring Carrollton 37-28 while getting as close as seven points.

“We picked our intensity up,” Craft said. “That was a great second half.”

After today’s game, Troup is off until Jan. 2 when it opens its Region 5-AAAA schedule against Chapel Hill.