East Lansing Storms Past Loy Norrix with Second-Quarter Surge

Damari Lawler goes up for a shot on tuesday night Photo by Chris Carpenter | Team TBM

These two teams met just a few weeks ago in East Lansing, where the Trojans came away with the win. This time, however, the matchup shifted to Loy Norrix’s home floor.

The Knights fed off their home crowd early. The atmosphere was electric in the opening quarter, and Loy Norrix responded with hot shooting and strong work on the boards. Their rebounding efforts limited second chances for East Lansing while creating extra opportunities of their own. At the end of the first quarter, Loy Norrix held a 19–15 lead and all the momentum.

Kj Torbert Drive down the lane tuesday night Photo by Chris Carpenter | Team TBM

The second quarter, though, belonged to East Lansing’s KJ Torbert. He completely changed the tone of the game. Attacking the basket with confidence, cleaning up on the glass, blocking shots, and jumping passing lanes for steals, KJ was everywhere. The “overrated” chants from the crowd may have added a little extra motivation, as he played with noticeable intensity and focus. Behind his all-around effort, the Trojans surged ahead and took control, heading into halftime with a commanding 38–23 lead.

Coming out of the break, East Lansing looked to speed things up with a full-court press, aiming to force turnovers and extend the lead. Loy Norrix countered by settling into a zone defense, attempting to slow the pace and control possessions. Both strategies created challenges for the opposing side, leading to stretches of scrappy, hard-fought basketball.

Kingston Thomas Slams it down tuesday night. Photo by Chris Carpenter | Team TBM

Ultimately, East Lansing found another gear in the third and fourth quarters. Their defensive pressure tightened, transition opportunities increased, and key plays down the stretch helped them pull away for the victory. The Trojans once again proved why they’re one of the toughest matchups around. I’ll be back in this gym Thursday for a marquee showdown against the Kalamazoo Central Maroon Giants a matchup that promises plenty of excitement.

Play of the Game

KJ Torbert pushed the ball up the floor, passed ahead to a teammate, and quickly got it right back. With two strong dribbles, he exploded toward the rim for what looked like a thunderous slam. The dunk attempt rattled off the back of the rim, but the sequence itself was electric—a perfect example of breaking down a full-court press with speed and confidence.

Player of the Game

East Lansing’s Kingston Thomas consistently made the right plays on both ends of the floor. Whether it was smart defensive positioning, timely passes, or finishing in transition, he impacted the game in multiple ways. His two fast-break dunks late in the second quarter were especially impressive. It felt like he covered the distance from half court to the rim in a split second, finishing with power and authority to help shift momentum firmly in East Lansing’s favor.

Carpenter Action Shots – Thoughts from Behind the Camera

KJ is the real deal. I will definitely be following his college career!

Kalamazoo Loy Norrix

Damari Lawler 20 points

Javontay Smith 12 points

Jakari Lipsey 8 points

Cordae Gordon 7 points

William Bledsoe 6 points

East Lansing

KJ Torbert 19 points

Kingston Thomas 18 points

DQ Stewart 13 points

Tyree Anthony 11 points

Kellon Lott 7 points

Wade Anthony 5 points

Dillon Stewart 4 points

Henry Peck 2 points

Mychael Johnson 1 point