Trimble and Crowe ready to step onto the court for a third-place tournament game
Playing in high-caliber, high-stakes games is something Bree Trimble and Peyton Crowe are used to.
As Spartans, Crowe and Trimble were part of the most successful season in school history, capturing third place in the IHSA Class 2A girls’ basketball tournament, finishing the season with a 29-5 record in 2019.
Tonight, Crowe and Trimble are embarking on another milestone together. The duo will take the court in their second year as part of the Parkland College Women’s Basketball program, playing for third place in the NJCAA tournament.
“Bree and I are going on year six of playing together in our basketball careers,” Crowe said. “Not many players have the chance to say that and experience what we have in the past 6 years together. It has been nothing short of amazing to be a part of two very successful programs and being able to share the experiences together as teammates.”
The Cobras (19-4) will face Illinois Central College after losing at No. 2 seed Lake Land 68-47 in North Carolina on Friday night.
The 4 p.m. game will be the third time Parkland and ICC have faced off this season. The Cougars came out on top in the first game, defeating the Cobras 74-70. Parkland received an automatic bid to the NJCAA tournament with a 59-40 triumph over ICC fourteen days ago.
Defeating the No. 6 team in the nation came at the hand of a team focused on defense. The Cougars only shot 20-percent in the loss.
Defending some of Parkland’s opponents top-scorers has been the responsibility of Crowe.
“Defense has been a huge focus for me as a player this year and I have achieved my goals of shutting down pretty much every player I have guarded this season or holding them below their averages,” Crowe said.
Trimble also spent time working on her game with her dad and brother this summer. The 5’9” sophomore’s 10 point performance in the second game against ICC helped propel the Cobras to the win.
“As the underdog going into that game, our main focus was defense,” Trimble said. “We knew we had to play good team defense and be in the gaps to win the game and that is exactly what we did. Earning a spot in the national tournament at the college level with my teammates is something I could only dream of and being able to experience going to the big stage again is surreal.”
Trimble believes that Parkland should have received a higher seed in the NJCAA tournament after the win, but as a No. 6 seed, the Cobras defeated Muskegon 58-37 and Union County 50-40.
Like many athletes, Crowe and Trimble were excited to get a chance to get back on the court in 2021. An additional bonus: getting to spend one more season together.
“Being able to play with Peyton for these past years has been something that I will never forget,” Trimble said. “In high school we had so much fun playing together, being teammates, and creating memories that we will remember forever. Getting to experience the state tournament together in high school was so much fun and now getting to go to nationals together is really special. Peyton has taught me a lot about the game and life in general. I am very blessed to have someone like her by my side through it all. Starting off being rivals in middle school, to being teammates in high school, and now playing our last year of basketball together, it’s so surreal and I am just very thankful to have her by my side all these years.”
