New-Look Triton Opens Season 7th In 1A Poll
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Mark [email protected]
“We’re excited to be in that spot. It’s just preseason, I don’t think it means much,” he said. “I think the kids are just excited to get started. We have a big group of kids, with three returning starters from last year. We’ve got a couple of other guys who are seniors who are ready to step in. So we’re excited about this team.”
Every high school team is a little bit different, and the Trojans will make adjustments this year that may be subtle to the average fan, but make a difference in the season.
“Last year defensively we had a lot of guys who could guard multiple positions. We had some pretty athletic, strong kids,” Groves said. “So I think we’re going to have to do some things differently this year; maybe pressure a little bit more, maybe play a little more zone.
“On the offensive side of the ball, I think we need to learn from our past a little bit. We need to score inside a little bit more; that’s kind of been our focus throughout the preseason, so we’re adjusting offensively to get the ball inside and look to score more inside.”
Triton has three returning starters. Jordan Anderson, Masen Yeo and Grant Johnson will help provide on-floor leadership. Filling in and taking over at point guard is senior Jarrett Kreft, who “started playing really well toward the end of last year, then broke his wrist. That was kind of disappointing, but he’s had a great summer. He’s starting to get confidence in himself and he’s been playing really well,” Groves said.
“Dalton Bailey played a lot of JV as a junior, but he’s had a really good summer and he’s come on, too.”
Of the projected starting quintet, only Johnson is an underclassman. Groves said seniors Brent Motz and Gavin Eads will also get a chance to contribute in their final seasons.
“There’s something about being a senior that’s a little bit different. Everything kind of clicks for them,” said Groves.
There’s playing time available for others whose primary playing experience is on the junior varsity.
‘(After the starters), it’s all JV and we need to see who steps up. Jarrett Martin could help us; he plays hard and is a gritty kid. Zac Pitney was, I think, the leading scorer on the JV last season.”
Triton opens play in the new Hoosier North Athletic Conference Dec. 11 when the Trojans host Pioneer. Groves said everyone has played each other in the past and the new conference is going to provide plenty of excitement.
“We know (the HNAC) is going to be competitive,” he said. “Winamac was really good last year, and has a lot of guys returning. Pioneer has a lot of guys coming back, too. We played Caston last year, they’re a solid team.
“And the new teams we’re familiar with, they’re good. The teams we saw in the NSC, LaVille, Culver and Knox ... we expect them to be good, too. It’ll definitely be competitive. It’ll be different, but I think it’ll be just as competitive (as the NSC).”
The Trojans open the season Wednesday when they host Oregon-Davis, the school that beat them in the Trojan Trench for the sectional title in March. But revenge isn’t necessarily on the minds of the Trojans.
“It’s nice, I guess, to be able to play the team that knocked you out of the postseason the year before,” he said. “But I don’t think we look at it that way. They have a different team, we have a different team, and I think it’s more the start of a new season than getting revenge on a team that beat us last year.
“But, it is nice to be able to look forward to that as well.”[[In-content Ad]]
“We’re excited to be in that spot. It’s just preseason, I don’t think it means much,” he said. “I think the kids are just excited to get started. We have a big group of kids, with three returning starters from last year. We’ve got a couple of other guys who are seniors who are ready to step in. So we’re excited about this team.”
Every high school team is a little bit different, and the Trojans will make adjustments this year that may be subtle to the average fan, but make a difference in the season.
“Last year defensively we had a lot of guys who could guard multiple positions. We had some pretty athletic, strong kids,” Groves said. “So I think we’re going to have to do some things differently this year; maybe pressure a little bit more, maybe play a little more zone.
“On the offensive side of the ball, I think we need to learn from our past a little bit. We need to score inside a little bit more; that’s kind of been our focus throughout the preseason, so we’re adjusting offensively to get the ball inside and look to score more inside.”
Triton has three returning starters. Jordan Anderson, Masen Yeo and Grant Johnson will help provide on-floor leadership. Filling in and taking over at point guard is senior Jarrett Kreft, who “started playing really well toward the end of last year, then broke his wrist. That was kind of disappointing, but he’s had a great summer. He’s starting to get confidence in himself and he’s been playing really well,” Groves said.
“Dalton Bailey played a lot of JV as a junior, but he’s had a really good summer and he’s come on, too.”
Of the projected starting quintet, only Johnson is an underclassman. Groves said seniors Brent Motz and Gavin Eads will also get a chance to contribute in their final seasons.
“There’s something about being a senior that’s a little bit different. Everything kind of clicks for them,” said Groves.
There’s playing time available for others whose primary playing experience is on the junior varsity.
‘(After the starters), it’s all JV and we need to see who steps up. Jarrett Martin could help us; he plays hard and is a gritty kid. Zac Pitney was, I think, the leading scorer on the JV last season.”
Triton opens play in the new Hoosier North Athletic Conference Dec. 11 when the Trojans host Pioneer. Groves said everyone has played each other in the past and the new conference is going to provide plenty of excitement.
“We know (the HNAC) is going to be competitive,” he said. “Winamac was really good last year, and has a lot of guys returning. Pioneer has a lot of guys coming back, too. We played Caston last year, they’re a solid team.
“And the new teams we’re familiar with, they’re good. The teams we saw in the NSC, LaVille, Culver and Knox ... we expect them to be good, too. It’ll definitely be competitive. It’ll be different, but I think it’ll be just as competitive (as the NSC).”
The Trojans open the season Wednesday when they host Oregon-Davis, the school that beat them in the Trojan Trench for the sectional title in March. But revenge isn’t necessarily on the minds of the Trojans.
“It’s nice, I guess, to be able to play the team that knocked you out of the postseason the year before,” he said. “But I don’t think we look at it that way. They have a different team, we have a different team, and I think it’s more the start of a new season than getting revenge on a team that beat us last year.
“But, it is nice to be able to look forward to that as well.”[[In-content Ad]]
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