Knox Edges Triton 69-64 In Culver Championship
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
CULVER - If Triton varsity boys basketball coach Joe Bennett could somehow erase the first quarter of Saturday's game with Knox, his team would've walked away with the Culver Holiday Tournament championship.
Instead Triton fell to 4-4 on the season with a 69-64 loss.
After digging a 15-4 hole for themselves in the first quarter, the Trojans outscored Knox 60-54 the rest of the way.
"I thought early on we had some good shots," said Bennett. "Overall in the first half we had good shots the ball just didn't go in. For me it's like broccoli, it makes everythings else taste better. The kids showed great toughness."
The Trojans shot a dismal 2 of 14 (14.3 percent) from the field in the first quarter, while Knox, on the other hand was 6 of 11.
The rest of the way Triton shot 23 of 43 (53.4 percent) from the field, compared to the Redskins' 20 of 41 (48.8 percent).
After the Redskins got three field goals, including a three-pointer, from senior Corey Clemons they led 9-0 with 5:16 remaining in the first quarter.
The Trojans didn't score until Austin Unterbrink scored with 3:20 remaining in the frame, cutting the deficit to 11-2. Unterbrink scored Triton's other field goal with 29 second left.
Unterbrink finished the game with 11 points. Triton's Brandon Zeider led all scorers with 27 points. Junior Jake Burnett added 12 points in the loss, on four treys.
Brandon Webb led the Redskins with 16 points. Clemons and Scott Ritchie added 14 and 12 points, respectively.
In the first half Webb, a 6-6 center, was 4 of 7 in the first half and 4 of 10 in the second half.
"I was pleased with our defensive effort on Webb," said Bennett. "(Brian) Klingerman did a good job on him."
The Trojans trailed 30-17 at the half and 38-23 with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter before going on a 17-2 run.
Unterbrink made good on two free throw attempts with 4:43 left in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 38-25. Two three-pointers from Burnett in the last 1:41 knotted the score at 40, but Knox jumped back out to a 43-40 lead on a three by Clemons. After a Zeider field goal Triton trailed by one at the end of three quarters.
Zeider gave Triton its first lead of the game with a trey at the 7:40 mark of the final frame. The two teams continued to trade baskets until the Redskins rattled off an 11-2 run that turned a 52-51 Triton advantage with 3:52 to play, into a 62-54 Knox lead with a minute to play.
"When you play a tight game the little things make all the difference: a box out, free throws," said Bennett. "We were 8 of 15 at the line. You're not going to beat a team like Knox shooting like that. I can't falter their efforts it was a fun game to watch. Not a fun game to coach but it was probably fun to watch."
After being whistled for five fouls in the first half, Triton committed 12 fouls in the second half. And the Redskins capitalized by making good on 12 of 14 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
For the game Knox was 15 of 18 at the free throw line.
Triton (4-4) will be on the court again Jan. 7 when it travels to Northern State Conference rival Glenn.
"We have to be focused and get better everyday," said Bennett. "It sounds like a cliche but it's true. We're trying to improve and put ourselves in position to win the sectional. We've played a tough schedule and lost four games to four good teams. We lost to Plymouth, but the other three games we were real competitive. It doesn't get any easier. Next off we have Glenn. I think the area teams are better. No matter what night it's going to be a dog fight."
KNOX 69, TRITON 64
Triton (4-4) 4 13 25 22 - 64
Knox (5-1) 15 15 13 26 - 69
Triton FG FT R S Pts.
Bell 0-2 0-2 1 0 0
Unterbrink (G) 4-14 3-4 1 0 11
Burnett 4-5 0-0 0 0 12
Salyer 1-3 0-0 0 1 2
Potter (F) 2-3 0-0 6 1 4
Zeider (F) 11-16 3-5 6 1 27
Sauer 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Klingerman (C) 2-10 2-2 7 0 6
Blackford (G) 1-4 0-0 2 0 2
Read 0-0 0-2 0 0 0
Moore 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Total 25-57 8-15 26 3 64
Knox FG FT R S Pts.
Davis (G) 0-6 6-8 5 0 6
Ritchie (G) 3-4 6-6 4 0 12
Dulin (F) 0-2 2-2 1 0 2
Greer 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Binkley 6-6 0-0 3 0 12
Clemons (F) 6-9 0-0 6 0 14
Fosler 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Minix 3-8 1-2 5 0 7
Webb (C) 8-17 0-0 5 0 16
Totals 26-52 15-18 36 0 69
Three-pointers - Triton 6 (Burnett 4, Zeider 2), Knox 2 (Clemons 2). Turnovers - Triton 8, Knox 9. Fouls - Triton 17, Knox 17. Fouled out - none.
Consolation game - Caston 55, Culver 47 [[In-content Ad]]
CULVER - If Triton varsity boys basketball coach Joe Bennett could somehow erase the first quarter of Saturday's game with Knox, his team would've walked away with the Culver Holiday Tournament championship.
Instead Triton fell to 4-4 on the season with a 69-64 loss.
After digging a 15-4 hole for themselves in the first quarter, the Trojans outscored Knox 60-54 the rest of the way.
"I thought early on we had some good shots," said Bennett. "Overall in the first half we had good shots the ball just didn't go in. For me it's like broccoli, it makes everythings else taste better. The kids showed great toughness."
The Trojans shot a dismal 2 of 14 (14.3 percent) from the field in the first quarter, while Knox, on the other hand was 6 of 11.
The rest of the way Triton shot 23 of 43 (53.4 percent) from the field, compared to the Redskins' 20 of 41 (48.8 percent).
After the Redskins got three field goals, including a three-pointer, from senior Corey Clemons they led 9-0 with 5:16 remaining in the first quarter.
The Trojans didn't score until Austin Unterbrink scored with 3:20 remaining in the frame, cutting the deficit to 11-2. Unterbrink scored Triton's other field goal with 29 second left.
Unterbrink finished the game with 11 points. Triton's Brandon Zeider led all scorers with 27 points. Junior Jake Burnett added 12 points in the loss, on four treys.
Brandon Webb led the Redskins with 16 points. Clemons and Scott Ritchie added 14 and 12 points, respectively.
In the first half Webb, a 6-6 center, was 4 of 7 in the first half and 4 of 10 in the second half.
"I was pleased with our defensive effort on Webb," said Bennett. "(Brian) Klingerman did a good job on him."
The Trojans trailed 30-17 at the half and 38-23 with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter before going on a 17-2 run.
Unterbrink made good on two free throw attempts with 4:43 left in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 38-25. Two three-pointers from Burnett in the last 1:41 knotted the score at 40, but Knox jumped back out to a 43-40 lead on a three by Clemons. After a Zeider field goal Triton trailed by one at the end of three quarters.
Zeider gave Triton its first lead of the game with a trey at the 7:40 mark of the final frame. The two teams continued to trade baskets until the Redskins rattled off an 11-2 run that turned a 52-51 Triton advantage with 3:52 to play, into a 62-54 Knox lead with a minute to play.
"When you play a tight game the little things make all the difference: a box out, free throws," said Bennett. "We were 8 of 15 at the line. You're not going to beat a team like Knox shooting like that. I can't falter their efforts it was a fun game to watch. Not a fun game to coach but it was probably fun to watch."
After being whistled for five fouls in the first half, Triton committed 12 fouls in the second half. And the Redskins capitalized by making good on 12 of 14 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
For the game Knox was 15 of 18 at the free throw line.
Triton (4-4) will be on the court again Jan. 7 when it travels to Northern State Conference rival Glenn.
"We have to be focused and get better everyday," said Bennett. "It sounds like a cliche but it's true. We're trying to improve and put ourselves in position to win the sectional. We've played a tough schedule and lost four games to four good teams. We lost to Plymouth, but the other three games we were real competitive. It doesn't get any easier. Next off we have Glenn. I think the area teams are better. No matter what night it's going to be a dog fight."
KNOX 69, TRITON 64
Triton (4-4) 4 13 25 22 - 64
Knox (5-1) 15 15 13 26 - 69
Triton FG FT R S Pts.
Bell 0-2 0-2 1 0 0
Unterbrink (G) 4-14 3-4 1 0 11
Burnett 4-5 0-0 0 0 12
Salyer 1-3 0-0 0 1 2
Potter (F) 2-3 0-0 6 1 4
Zeider (F) 11-16 3-5 6 1 27
Sauer 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Klingerman (C) 2-10 2-2 7 0 6
Blackford (G) 1-4 0-0 2 0 2
Read 0-0 0-2 0 0 0
Moore 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Total 25-57 8-15 26 3 64
Knox FG FT R S Pts.
Davis (G) 0-6 6-8 5 0 6
Ritchie (G) 3-4 6-6 4 0 12
Dulin (F) 0-2 2-2 1 0 2
Greer 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Binkley 6-6 0-0 3 0 12
Clemons (F) 6-9 0-0 6 0 14
Fosler 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Minix 3-8 1-2 5 0 7
Webb (C) 8-17 0-0 5 0 16
Totals 26-52 15-18 36 0 69
Three-pointers - Triton 6 (Burnett 4, Zeider 2), Knox 2 (Clemons 2). Turnovers - Triton 8, Knox 9. Fouls - Triton 17, Knox 17. Fouled out - none.
Consolation game - Caston 55, Culver 47 [[In-content Ad]]