Gritty Style Suits Triton...
Defensive-minded Trojans making fourth state finals apperance in six years
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
That style of play fits his team, and the eighth-year skipper says expect more of the same Saturday when the Trojans (20-5) face the Borden Braves (23-3) at 10:30 a.m. in the Class 1A state finals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
“Some people may call it winning ugly, but I think it’s fun,” said Groves, whose team is making its fourth state finals appearance in the past six years. “We take pride in playing defense, and it's become our identity as we've grown and matured this season.”
The Trojans have given up an average of just under 43 points per game this season.
They've done even better in their current postseason run – holding four of their five tournament opponents to 41 points or less.
“The first thing I preached when I took over the program was defense,” said Groves, whose team advanced to the state finals with a 40-32 win over No. 6 Lafayette Central Catholic in the Lafayette Jeff Semistate. “Anybody can play defense. It’s about heart. And the good thing is, our kids have bought into it. We didn't really have an idenity at the beginning of the season. Defense and grinding it out has really become our identity.”
Triton takes a 12-game win streak into Saturday's championship game.
In those 12 games, the Trojans gave up more than 46 points just once.
Tippecanoe Valley, a 3A team that advanced to the Blackford Regional and finished the season with a 20-4 record, put up 59 points – but still couldn't beat Triton.
“We're scrappy on defense, and we trust each other,” said senior Clay Yeo, who leads the Trojans with 26 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game. “Like Coach says, we find a way to win, and that's what we have to do Saturday.”
With 1,966 points and counting, Yeo is Triton's all-time leading scorer. If he were to score 34 points against Borden, he would become just the 42nd boys player in state history with 2,000 career points.
“Our ultimate goal as a team is to win a state championship,” said Yeo. “I just wanna do whatever it takes to win a state championship. I’m looking forward to (playing at Valparaiso University) next year, but we've got some business to take care of Saturday. After it’s all said and done, I’ll look back on my career and be satisfied, but going out with a state championship would be great.”
Junior Tanner Shepherd averages 11 points per game for the Trojans, while senior Seth Glingle and sophomore Joey Corder score four points per game each and junior Cody Shively adds three points per game.
“I've dreamed about this my whole life,” Shepherd said of the excitement surrounding the team's tournament run, which includes wins over No. 4 Pioneer, No. 6 Central Catholic and No. 8 Marquette Catholic. “It's going to be the best feeling ever.”
The Braves, who are making their first state finals appearance in any team sport, take a nine-game win streak into Saturday’s title tilt.
Borden beat University 47-44 to win the Seymour Semistate.
The Braves have faced just one state-ranked team during the tournament – No. 3 Barr-Reeve, who they beat 43-42 in the championship game of the Loogootee Regional.
“They’re really scrappy as a team,” Yeo, the only Division I recruit Borden will have seen this season, said of the Braves. “They’re not very big. But they play together, and they get after it.”
In their six tournament games, the Braves have scored an aveage of 52 points, while giving up an average of 42.
Borden is 17-1 this season against Class 1A teams, 5-1 against 2A teams and 1-1 against 3A teams.
Triton is 10-1 against 1A competition, 4-1 against 2A teams, 5-3 against 3A teams and 1-0 against 4A teams.
The Braves’ three loss this season are by a combined 14 points.
“They’re kind of like LaVille,” Shepherd said of the Braves. “They’re aggressive on defense, and they have one really good shooter like LaVille. We’re going to have to play really good defense. But that’s something we’ve gotten used to.”
Borden’s five starters are all 6-1 or 6-2. Four of them are seniors, and all five of them started on last season’s 22-2 team.
Jalen McCoy leads the Braves in scoring with 12 points per game, while Billy Kirchgessner, Michael Lynch and Garrett Vick all score close to nine points per game and Cody Bachman chips in with seven.
Borden opened the season with nine-straight wins before losing back-to-back games in early January. The Braves’ last loss was a 34-31 set back to Springs Valley – the alma mater of Larry Bird – on Feb. 9.
The Trojans started the year with a 2-3 record but have gone 18-2 since.
Of Triton’s five losses, three were by four points or less.
“Our schedule is pretty tough,” said Yeo, who had 33 points and the game-winner against 4A sectional champion Warsaw and 27 points against 3A sectional champion Valley. “We play a lot of big schools. Our schedule is pretty tough. It really gets us ready for the tournament.”
The Trojans have won at least 20 games in six consecutive seasons.
“It amazes me the talent we’ve had come through here,” said Groves. “I’ve been blessed to coach the kids we’ve had, and this group as well. These kids deserve a lot of credit. They’ve gotten better as the season went along.”[[In-content Ad]]
That style of play fits his team, and the eighth-year skipper says expect more of the same Saturday when the Trojans (20-5) face the Borden Braves (23-3) at 10:30 a.m. in the Class 1A state finals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
“Some people may call it winning ugly, but I think it’s fun,” said Groves, whose team is making its fourth state finals appearance in the past six years. “We take pride in playing defense, and it's become our identity as we've grown and matured this season.”
The Trojans have given up an average of just under 43 points per game this season.
They've done even better in their current postseason run – holding four of their five tournament opponents to 41 points or less.
“The first thing I preached when I took over the program was defense,” said Groves, whose team advanced to the state finals with a 40-32 win over No. 6 Lafayette Central Catholic in the Lafayette Jeff Semistate. “Anybody can play defense. It’s about heart. And the good thing is, our kids have bought into it. We didn't really have an idenity at the beginning of the season. Defense and grinding it out has really become our identity.”
Triton takes a 12-game win streak into Saturday's championship game.
In those 12 games, the Trojans gave up more than 46 points just once.
Tippecanoe Valley, a 3A team that advanced to the Blackford Regional and finished the season with a 20-4 record, put up 59 points – but still couldn't beat Triton.
“We're scrappy on defense, and we trust each other,” said senior Clay Yeo, who leads the Trojans with 26 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game. “Like Coach says, we find a way to win, and that's what we have to do Saturday.”
With 1,966 points and counting, Yeo is Triton's all-time leading scorer. If he were to score 34 points against Borden, he would become just the 42nd boys player in state history with 2,000 career points.
“Our ultimate goal as a team is to win a state championship,” said Yeo. “I just wanna do whatever it takes to win a state championship. I’m looking forward to (playing at Valparaiso University) next year, but we've got some business to take care of Saturday. After it’s all said and done, I’ll look back on my career and be satisfied, but going out with a state championship would be great.”
Junior Tanner Shepherd averages 11 points per game for the Trojans, while senior Seth Glingle and sophomore Joey Corder score four points per game each and junior Cody Shively adds three points per game.
“I've dreamed about this my whole life,” Shepherd said of the excitement surrounding the team's tournament run, which includes wins over No. 4 Pioneer, No. 6 Central Catholic and No. 8 Marquette Catholic. “It's going to be the best feeling ever.”
The Braves, who are making their first state finals appearance in any team sport, take a nine-game win streak into Saturday’s title tilt.
Borden beat University 47-44 to win the Seymour Semistate.
The Braves have faced just one state-ranked team during the tournament – No. 3 Barr-Reeve, who they beat 43-42 in the championship game of the Loogootee Regional.
“They’re really scrappy as a team,” Yeo, the only Division I recruit Borden will have seen this season, said of the Braves. “They’re not very big. But they play together, and they get after it.”
In their six tournament games, the Braves have scored an aveage of 52 points, while giving up an average of 42.
Borden is 17-1 this season against Class 1A teams, 5-1 against 2A teams and 1-1 against 3A teams.
Triton is 10-1 against 1A competition, 4-1 against 2A teams, 5-3 against 3A teams and 1-0 against 4A teams.
The Braves’ three loss this season are by a combined 14 points.
“They’re kind of like LaVille,” Shepherd said of the Braves. “They’re aggressive on defense, and they have one really good shooter like LaVille. We’re going to have to play really good defense. But that’s something we’ve gotten used to.”
Borden’s five starters are all 6-1 or 6-2. Four of them are seniors, and all five of them started on last season’s 22-2 team.
Jalen McCoy leads the Braves in scoring with 12 points per game, while Billy Kirchgessner, Michael Lynch and Garrett Vick all score close to nine points per game and Cody Bachman chips in with seven.
Borden opened the season with nine-straight wins before losing back-to-back games in early January. The Braves’ last loss was a 34-31 set back to Springs Valley – the alma mater of Larry Bird – on Feb. 9.
The Trojans started the year with a 2-3 record but have gone 18-2 since.
Of Triton’s five losses, three were by four points or less.
“Our schedule is pretty tough,” said Yeo, who had 33 points and the game-winner against 4A sectional champion Warsaw and 27 points against 3A sectional champion Valley. “We play a lot of big schools. Our schedule is pretty tough. It really gets us ready for the tournament.”
The Trojans have won at least 20 games in six consecutive seasons.
“It amazes me the talent we’ve had come through here,” said Groves. “I’ve been blessed to coach the kids we’ve had, and this group as well. These kids deserve a lot of credit. They’ve gotten better as the season went along.”[[In-content Ad]]
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