Trinity Lutheran’s boys basketball team dropped a game Tuesday evening to Charlestown 52-36 at the Bollinger Athletic Complex.
The game was close until the Cougars (5-17) ran out of gas in the final quarter.
The game began with a shootout from both teams.
Trinity’s Jacob Rowe scored a quick basket and the Pirates’ Isaiah Harris answered with a drive to the hoop of his own. Cougars guard Chad Stuckwisch responded with a 3-pointer to which Charlestown’s Jordon Knoebel did the same, bringing the score to 5-5.
Both teams took care of the ball, committing only two turnovers each in the opening quarter. Charlestown (11-10) was hot from beyond the arc, as 9 of their 11 points came from 3-pointers.
The Pirates also blew opportunities at the line, going 0-6 in the opening quarter. Trinity had a 12-11 lead to close the first quarter.
The Pirates got off to a rocky start to begin the second quarter as they committed as many turnovers in the opening 2:30 of the second quarter as they did in the entire first quarter.
Coach Jason Connell took a timeout, and the Pirates were able to settle in.
The Cougars scored quick with two free throws from senior Colton Wischmeier but went scoreless for the next three minutes.
The Cougars struggled from the floor and only scored five points in the second quarter.
The Pirates continued to struggle from the line, missing two more free throws, but went into the locker room with a 20-17 lead powered by three jump shots and a three pointer. Stuckwisch led the Cougars with five points in the first half.
The third quarter opened with both teams scoring on their opening possessions. Then, senior Sam Marksberry hit two free throws.
The Pirates then went on a 9-0 run to take a 31-21 lead.
Stuckwisch ended the run with a 3-pointer, but then Pirates senior Miles Matthews answered with a three of his own.
Stuckwisch responded with another three to bring the score 34-27 in favor of Charlestown. Charlestown added three more points and the third quarter ended with a score of 37-27 in favor of the Pirates.
The fourth quarter began with Stuckwisch hitting two free throws and both teams giving up baskets.
The Cougars brought an 11-point deficit down to six points, but the Pirates went on a 9-0 run to take a 52-36 lead to end the game.
Trinity has lost seven straight games going into Friday’s home game against Christian Academy of Indiana.