Clutch Threes Seal Comeback as Schoolcraft Stuns Parchment, 57–54

Ty Goddard drills the game-sealing three Friday night to lift the Eagles. Photo by Chris Carpenter | Team TBM

Parchment came out of the gate with strong home-court intensity, knocking down early three-pointers, but the game was tied 15–15 at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Parchment turned up the pressure—especially on the defensive end. Active hands in the passing lanes led to multiple steals, and combined with big-time shots from BJ Hunt and Donjae Gilmore-Slater, Parchment took a 35–26 lead into halftime.

Donjae Gilmore-Slater knocks down a contested three—one of many on the night. Photo by Chris Carpenter | Team TBM

Parchment continued to feed off the home crowd in the third quarter, holding Schoolcraft to just nine points. The Panthers extended their lead to 50–35 heading into the final quarter.

Both teams struggled with some uncharacteristic misses early in the fourth, but Jimmy Miller went to work inside and helped cut Parchment’s lead to six. After a few timeouts and a strong full-court press by Schoolcraft, Ty Goddard drilled a clutch three at the two-minute mark to tie the game. Schoolcraft then got a defensive stop, and after calling a timeout to set up a play for the hot hand, Goddard delivered again—knocking down another three to give the Eagles a three-point lead with under a minute to play.

Jimmy Miller throws down a slam late in the second quarter. Photo by Chris Carpenter | Team TBM

Parchment looked to Donjae Gilmore-Slater on the ensuing possession, but Jimmy Miller came up with a huge block to regain possession for Schoolcraft. An out-of-bounds turnover gave Parchment one last chance down three with 17 seconds left, but they were unable to get a shot off. Schoolcraft completed the comeback and secured a 57–54 victory.

Play of the Game (Pit Training League): Ty Goddard earns Play(s) of the Game honors for his two clutch three-pointers late in the fourth quarter.

Player of the Game: Donjae Gilmore-Slater

Donjae Gilmore-Slater of Parchment earns Pit Training League Player of the Game honors. Photo by Chris Carpenter | Team TBM

Donjae is the type of player every coach wants on their team. He’s a threat anytime the ball is in his hands, never takes a possession off defensively, and serves as an extension of the coach on the floor by keeping teammates in the right spots. Most impressive, though, was his sportsmanship—he was consistently the first player to help opponents off the floor.

Carpenter Action Shots – Thoughts From Behind the Camera: Both teams entered the season facing similar challenges after losing key players to college basketball Jalen Kampen (CMU) for Parchment and Tucker Walther (Hope) for Schoolcraft. Each program has found ways to fill those voids and continue winning.

Scoring Leaders

Parchment:

• Donjae Gilmore-Slater – 29 points

• BJ Hunt – 11 points

• Jackson Osborn – 6 points

• Raekwon Smith – 5 points

• Trinton Jackson – 3 points

Schoolcraft:

• Jimmy Miller – 29 points

• Ty Goddard – 19 points

• Bryce Lambe – 7 points

• Brody Epple – 2 points