Derrick Tilby recognized on Senior Night for his contributions to Morgan boys basketball

With Lady Trojans head coach Sterling Mack at the controls of the scoreboard inside the Morgan High gym on Friday Feb. 9, senior Derrick Tilby was honored at center court before Morgan’s boys played Ben Lomond. 

The Trojans’ point guard might have been a tad embarrassed by some of his pictures that were somehow found and shared on poster boards by the student section but Tilby didn’t let it bother him one bit during Morgan’s 82-59 win at home, Friday. 

Two nights earlier, Tilby’s 20 points Wednesday night Feb. 7 at South Summit weren’t enough to turn around the Trojans’ fortunes in a 61-51 loss for Morgan. 

But, that would change on a Senior Night which turned out to be an occasion that honored Tilby, who got his flowers along with team manager Tylee Archibald. 

As the scoreboard’s clock malfunctioned in the waning moments of the first half against Ben Lomond, the Trojans’ defense did not as they took a 36-27 lead. 

Opening the third quarter, Tilby had a steal, racing down the court as he went behind the back before finding Kolton Asay alone in the corner for a three-point bucket. Then, Tilby splashed a three of his own for his 10th point. With 6:23 showing on the scoreboard clock, the Trojans upped their lead to 42-29. 

Jack Hurd would swish a midrange jumper from the elbow for his first two points of the game. Then, Tilby would drain his 13 point right in front of the same student section showing off some of the senior’s most mortifying childhood photos. 

All would be forgiven, however, as the Trojans pushed their lead out to 18 points before Ben Lomond inched it back with some timely three-point makes. 

Morgan [12-11, 6-4 Region 13] would watch its lead surge to as many as 22 and as little as 17 for about four minutes of that third quarter before Ben Russell would get his season-high seventh point on a jumper to put the lead back to 18, 63-45, going into the fourth. 

Russell was flying high in this game, leaping for several rebounds. On an inbounds play in the backcourt early in the fourth, Russell even showed off some upper body strength, immediately passing the ball at midcourt in mid-air to an open Trojan for a layup. 

Midway through the fourth, Tilby then sprinted the length of the court for a layup, marking his 17 and final point. 

With 41 seconds left, Tilby exited to the roar of the crowd. For the Trojans who will next open the 3A tournament as the No. 7 seed against No. 10 Judge Memorial at home on Feb. 17, it was a fitting ending. λ