GREENVILLE – The Greenville Green Wave earned an early-season statement win Friday night, knocking down 10 3-pointers and going an impressive 9-of-11 at the free-throw line to edge the visiting Troy Trojans 67–64 in MVL play.
“The three-ball does wonders, and it was created because of good ball movement, drive-and-kick, and trusting each other,” said veteran Greenville coach Matt Hamilton. “Different guys stepped up at different times – a total team effort.”
The Wave needed every bit of that balance, weathering a torrid Troy third quarter and surviving a spirited fourth to secure their first victory of the season.
“I told my guys I was really proud of them,” Hamilton added. “When they started coming, we never gave up, we never gave up the lead. Even though we had some turnovers, we made buckets when we needed them. We played together – that’s what we’ve been after.”
Greenville opened with a quick 4–0 lead before Troy answered with five straight points. The teams were locked at 8–8 with 3:32 remaining in the first quarter before Greenville closed on a decisive 12–4 run.
Michael McMahon lit up the opening period with 10 points, including two 3-pointers, guiding the Wave to a 20–12 lead after one.
Greenville continued to roll in the second, pushing the advantage to 29–19 at the 2:19 mark and stretching the lead to 37–20 with 33 seconds left. The Wave entered halftime firmly in control, up 37–22.
Isaac Kerg paced the second quarter with seven points, including a trey, while JiJi Jim came off the bench to knock down two crucial 3-pointers.
“JiJi Jim stepped in and hit some big threes,” Hamilton said. “Landon Noble early had some big buckets and stepped in defensively.”
The Trojans were nearly unstoppable in the third, erupting for 26 points while holding Greenville to 12. By quarter’s end, the Wave’s once-comfortable lead had shrunk to a single point, 49–48.
“We knew at halftime they would bring more pressure,” Hamilton said. “They really started amping up already in the second quarter. We knew that pressure was coming, and they did a great job coming after us. They executed well.”
One of Greenville’s biggest boosts came late in the third when 6’4” senior Johnny Barr brought the crowd to its feet with a towering one-handed slam dunk, a momentum-changer that carried into the fourth.
“He has abilities,” Hamilton said of Barr. “I talked to him at halftime, almost exactly that play – to square the guy up at the elbow and take it to the hole. That was fun to see.”
Barr opened the final period with a smooth 5-foot jump hook to push the Wave ahead 51–48. Then came a game-changing stretch from senior guard Ethan Flatter, who drilled three consecutive 3-pointers – first from the right baseline, then the left, and finally from the right elbow – giving Greenville a 60–55 lead with 2:37 left.
“Flatter was lights out in the fourth,” Hamilton said.
Troy again closed the gap, pulling within 60–59 with 1:09 remaining. The Trojans sent McMahon to the line twice in the final minute, and the junior delivered under pressure, going a perfect 4-for-4 to extend the lead to 64–62 with 17 seconds left.
“He stepped up,” Hamilton said. “In the timeout, he said, ‘I’ll shoot those free throws, and I’ll make them,’ and he came through – great leadership.”
With 13 seconds left, Barr added two more clutch free throws for a 66–62 advantage. McMahon tacked on one final free throw before Troy scored an uncontested layup as time expired.
“A lot of guys stepped up tonight,” Hamilton said. “Gage Denham, the effort he gave defensively, and he hit a big three in the third quarter.”
The 67–64 victory marks Greenville’s first of the season and showcases a deep, balanced lineup capable of scoring in bunches and responding to adversity.
BOX SCORE:
GREENVILLE 67, TROY 64
GREENVILLE – M. McMahon 18, E. Flatter 13, I. Kerg 11, J. Barr 10, JiJi Jim 6, L. Noble 4, G. Denham 3, D. Conway 2 – TOTALS 13 11-13 10 67
TROY – A. Luis 14, E. Atkins 14, K. Winfield 13, M. Hall 10, J. Murphy 5, M. Gifford 4, B. O’Leary 4 – TOTALS 17 18-30 4 64
3-POINTERS
Greenville 10 (E. Flatter 3, M. McMahon 3, JiJi Jim 2, G. Denham 1, I. Kerg 1)
Troy 4 (A. Lewis 2, E. Atkins 1, M. Hill 1)
SCORE by QUARTERS
20-17-12-18 67 Greenville
12-10-26-16 64 Troy
