The Troy boys basketball team stayed on the winning track Tuesday at the Activity Center as the Trojans edged Eureka, 52-51.

Troy is 7-3 overall and leads 7B with a 5-0 record. Tuesday’s win over the Lions was the Trojan’s third straight.

Junior Carson Orr led Troy with 26 points, Kempton Sloan had 11, Emerson Downey scored eight and Nolan Morris added five points.

The Trojans had to hang on after taking a 45-33 lead with 2:28 left in the third quarter when Downey hit a 3-pointer.

The Lions used an 8-0 run in the final few minutes of the third to cut their deficit to four points, 45-41.

But Orr scored on a drive to the basket with 6:05 left in the game to make it 47-43. He followed with a 3-pointer 32 seconds later to make it 50-45.

But the Lions cut the Troy lead to one point, 50-49, with 2:17 left. The Trojans turned it over on the next possession, but Eureka didn’t capitalize, missing a shot.

The Trojans got a fast break opportunity off the miss and Orr found Morris for a layup to make it 52-49 with 1:34 left. Orr fouled out with 1:13 left, but the Lions missed a 3.

With 45 seconds left, Eureka’s Cole Sartori got a steal and was fouled. He hit both shots to make it 52-51.

Troy turned the ball over again and Sartori was fouled with six seconds left. The Trojan faithful got loud and Sartori missed both shots.

Troy missed two free throws with 2.6 seconds left, but Rowan Burow’s three-quarter court prayer was not answered.

Eureka controlled the first quarter and led 18-13. A nifty reverse layup by senior Preston Norder beat the buzzer and gave the Trojans momentum.

Orr came out shooting well, scoring seven points to pull the hosts within one, 23-22. Downey’s 3-pointer with 4:22 left gave Troy a 25-23 lead, one it didn’t relinquish.

Orr’s drive to the basket made it 27-23 with 3:27 left in the first half. Eureka called timeout in an attempt to slow Troy’s momentum following a 14-5 run.

Sloan had a putback and two free throws to make it 31-26, then he buried a jumper with 1:22 left to make 33-26. Orr’s layup with six seconds left made it 35-31 at the half.

The third quarter started well when Orr banked in a 3-pointer. He added a free throw a few seconds later to make it 41-33. A technical foul at the midway point of the third put Sloan on the line and he made one free throw.

Sloan then made a few excellent defensive plays that pushed the Trojans to their largest lead. He blocked a Lions shot, then contested the follow shot and grabbed the defensive rebound.

Downey followed with his second 3 of the game to make it 45-33.

The Troy Lady Trojans fell to Eureka, 77-46.

Troy is at Thompson Falls tonight.

    Troy's Kempton Sloan passes the ball to a teammate during a home game Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2024, against Eureka. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Troy's Emerson Downey prepares to inbound the ball during a home game Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2024, against Eureka. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)