Trinity Claims the 2012 Republic Bank/Coca-Cola Louisville Invitational Tournament

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- No. 1 Trinity used a monster second half to overcome a one-point halftime deficit and roll to a 74-57 win over Moore in the 2012 Republic Bank/Coca-Cola Louisville Invitational Tournament
Trinity claimed its third Louisville Invitational Tournament title in the 65-year history of the prestigious event. Trinity previously won the title in 2005 and 2010. Trinity has now won 10 of its last 11 games played in the tournament, winning two of the last three titles award in the tournament.
Junior guard Darryl Hicks was named the L.J. "Butch" Charmoli Award winner as the tournament's Most Valuable Player after scoring 12 points in the finals. Senior forward Nathan Dieudonne had 15 points while James Quick also added 15 for the Shamrocks.
The Shamrocks extended their overall winning streak to ten games and remained unbeaten in the state of Kentucky at 13-0. Every win against in-state competition has been by at least 13 points.
Trinity won its four tournament games by an average of 27.5 points with no game closer than 17 points.
Among the state's big three in-season tournaments, the King of the Bluegrass, Louisville Invitational Tournament and Republic Bank Holiday Classic, no one has been more successful than Szabo at Trinity. Szabo owns a combined seven titles in the tournaments. Pleasure Ridge Park's Dale Mabrey and Ballard's Chris Renner each own five such titles.
The Shamrocks are now 3-0 all-time in the tournament's title game. Trinity is one of one two teams that have won multiple titles and have a perfect record in the finals of the Louisville Invitational Tournament all-time. Bryan Station has also won multiple titles and holds a perfect record in LIT finals games. The Defenders won titles in 1974 and 1981.
The Shamrocks struggled to find their footing in the first half as Moore found openings in the Trinity defense and had just two turnovers in the first half. Trinity settled for jump shots in the opening half, hitting just 4-of-14 from behind the three-point arc and 11-of-25 from the field in the first 16 minutes.
Trinity took its first lead of the game on its first basket of the second half when Miles Rice nailed a jumper with 7:30 left in the third quarter. The teams exchanged the lead three times before the Shamrocks finally took control with their trademark defense. After Moore's William Bryant got a basket with 6:12 left in the third quarter to take a 35-33 lead, the Shamrocks went on a 16-5 lead, powered by a three-point play from Miles Rice and points from six other players.
Trinity returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 when the Shamrocks host Franklin County. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in Steinhauser Gymnasium.
Notes: Trinity improved to 21-1 in the month of January over the last three years with the win...The Shamrocks are now 28-4 in its last 32 regular season games...Trinity played for a championship of an in-season tournament for the ninth time in the Mike Szabo era. Szabo improved to 8-1 in in-season tournament games during his time at Trinity, winning their eighth straight game in such a situation... Trinity hit a season low four three-point field goals.

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