Triton Continues Sectional Dominance
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
Despite winning the previous five sectional crowns, the 10th-ranked Triton Trojans (17-5) entered this season’s tournament feeling slighted, as No. 7 Michigan City Marquette (18-6) was pegged as the favorite.
Meeting in Saturday’s championship game at Culver Community High School, the Trojans dealt the Marquette Blazers a 47-46 defeat, advancing to this Saturday’s regional at Triton High School.
“I kinda felt like we were underdogs,” Triton coach Jason Groves said. “Nobody was really talking about us at the sectional. It was always about Marquette. It was a little bit different. This was kinda special, because it wasn’t just us walking through the sectional like in the past. There were some tough teams.”
A night after using a balanced attack to take down the host Culver Cavaliers in the semifinals, Triton senior Clay Yeo took over the title game, netting 32 points, while also recording a game-high nine rebounds and five steals, as well as two assists.
“I felt like I needed to step up and play with a sense of urgency, with it being my last go-around in the Indiana basketball state tournament,” Yeo said.
Yeo finished the game hitting 14 of 25 shots, and having the ball in the hands of his Division I player is what Groves wanted.
“Clay just had that look in his eye, where he wasn’t going to be denied,” Groves said. “He was just very active. It’s not like he was doing too much, we just weren’t getting production from anybody else.”
Triton’s next leading scorer was junior Tanner Shepherd, who posted nine points and hit the Trojans’ lone three-pointer on 15 attempts.
“We had some kids that had open looks, we just couldn’t hit anything,” Groves said.
Even though they struggled from three-point land, the Trojans finished the game hitting 19 of their 46 total attempts, 41 percent.
Those 46 attempts were greater than Marquette’s 33, which was Triton's strategy.
“We had to control the tempo,” Groves said. “That was one thing we talked about. They’re really good in transition, getting out on the fastbreak. So each time we shot, we sent two guys back to make sure they didn’t get back on transition.”
With the win, the Trojans get to return home, which allows hometown fans another chance to see their favorite team.
“In our last (regular season) home game against (Tippecanoe) Valley, we mentioned that, ‘This wasn’t going to be our last home game,’” Groves said. “We wanted to get back here and get a chance at a regional championship. It’s definitely special to be able to come back home.”
And Yeo’s even happier to come back home.
“We’re going to give a good showing for all of our fans,” he said. “It’s going to be a good atmosphere and it’s going to be really fun to play in the (Trojan) Trench one more time.”
In the regional, Triton will face either Fort Wayne Canterbury or Lakewood Park, as the Sectional 52 championship was pushed back to today due to the Canterbury girls playing in the state championship game Saturday.
Because the Canterbury girls were winning the title with a 42-35 victory over Vincennes Rivet, Groves and his coaching staff will have a chance to scout tonight’s contest at Hamilton High School.
“You get a better feel of their size, quickness and athleticism when you’re there live,” Groves said. “On film, you sometimes can’t judge those things. It’s always nice to be there in person.”
Until the regional, the Trojans are enjoying a sectional title that many didn’t expect them to win.
“It felt like it meant more to win this one, just because we weren’t favored in the tournament,” Yeo said. “We were almost like underdogs.”
Groves shared Yeo’s sentiment.
“This one felt more special,” Groves said. “I felt like we really had to earn this one. Culver on the first night, with how well we know each other and the battles we’ve had the past couple of years. They do a great job, so we always have to be prepared. Then to beat a team of Marquette’s caliber. They’re a good team.”
TRITON 47, M.C. MARQUETTE 46
T 15 12 7 13 – 47
M 11 16 12 7 – 46
Triton – Joey Corder 1-4 0-1 2, Clay Yeo 14-25 4-8 32, Bryson Mosier 0-0 2-2 2, Tanner Shepherd 3-11 2-3 9, Seth Glingle 0-0 0-0 0, Cody Shively 0-0 0-0 0, Drew Mosson 0-0 0-0 0, Dillon Meadway 1-1 0-0 2, Skyler Reichert 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 19-46 8-14 47.
Marquette – Braxton Miller 0-3 2-3 2, Jaylen Jamison 0-1 0-0 0, Ritchie Mitchell 1-5 2-2 5, Nathan Flores 5-8 2-3 14, JoVonte Peals 3-3 0-0 7, Malcolm Reed 1-2 2-2 4, Ryan Fazekes 1-7 1-2 3, Jasmin Biberoviki 4-4 3-4 11. Totals 15-33 12-16 46.
Three-point goals – Triton 1-15 (Shepherd), Marquette 4-13 (Flores 2, Mitchell, Peals); Team Fouls – Triton 16, Marquette 17; Turnovers – Triton 8, Marquette 12; Rebounds – Triton 25 (Yeo 9), Marquette 22 (Fazekes 8); Assists – Triton 5 (Corder 2, Yeo 2), Marquette 11 (Miller 5); Steals – Triton (Yeo 5), Marquette 4 (Peals 2); Blocks – Triton 0, Marquette 2 (Biberoviki 2); Records: Triton 17-5, Marquette 18-6[[In-content Ad]]
Despite winning the previous five sectional crowns, the 10th-ranked Triton Trojans (17-5) entered this season’s tournament feeling slighted, as No. 7 Michigan City Marquette (18-6) was pegged as the favorite.
Meeting in Saturday’s championship game at Culver Community High School, the Trojans dealt the Marquette Blazers a 47-46 defeat, advancing to this Saturday’s regional at Triton High School.
“I kinda felt like we were underdogs,” Triton coach Jason Groves said. “Nobody was really talking about us at the sectional. It was always about Marquette. It was a little bit different. This was kinda special, because it wasn’t just us walking through the sectional like in the past. There were some tough teams.”
A night after using a balanced attack to take down the host Culver Cavaliers in the semifinals, Triton senior Clay Yeo took over the title game, netting 32 points, while also recording a game-high nine rebounds and five steals, as well as two assists.
“I felt like I needed to step up and play with a sense of urgency, with it being my last go-around in the Indiana basketball state tournament,” Yeo said.
Yeo finished the game hitting 14 of 25 shots, and having the ball in the hands of his Division I player is what Groves wanted.
“Clay just had that look in his eye, where he wasn’t going to be denied,” Groves said. “He was just very active. It’s not like he was doing too much, we just weren’t getting production from anybody else.”
Triton’s next leading scorer was junior Tanner Shepherd, who posted nine points and hit the Trojans’ lone three-pointer on 15 attempts.
“We had some kids that had open looks, we just couldn’t hit anything,” Groves said.
Even though they struggled from three-point land, the Trojans finished the game hitting 19 of their 46 total attempts, 41 percent.
Those 46 attempts were greater than Marquette’s 33, which was Triton's strategy.
“We had to control the tempo,” Groves said. “That was one thing we talked about. They’re really good in transition, getting out on the fastbreak. So each time we shot, we sent two guys back to make sure they didn’t get back on transition.”
With the win, the Trojans get to return home, which allows hometown fans another chance to see their favorite team.
“In our last (regular season) home game against (Tippecanoe) Valley, we mentioned that, ‘This wasn’t going to be our last home game,’” Groves said. “We wanted to get back here and get a chance at a regional championship. It’s definitely special to be able to come back home.”
And Yeo’s even happier to come back home.
“We’re going to give a good showing for all of our fans,” he said. “It’s going to be a good atmosphere and it’s going to be really fun to play in the (Trojan) Trench one more time.”
In the regional, Triton will face either Fort Wayne Canterbury or Lakewood Park, as the Sectional 52 championship was pushed back to today due to the Canterbury girls playing in the state championship game Saturday.
Because the Canterbury girls were winning the title with a 42-35 victory over Vincennes Rivet, Groves and his coaching staff will have a chance to scout tonight’s contest at Hamilton High School.
“You get a better feel of their size, quickness and athleticism when you’re there live,” Groves said. “On film, you sometimes can’t judge those things. It’s always nice to be there in person.”
Until the regional, the Trojans are enjoying a sectional title that many didn’t expect them to win.
“It felt like it meant more to win this one, just because we weren’t favored in the tournament,” Yeo said. “We were almost like underdogs.”
Groves shared Yeo’s sentiment.
“This one felt more special,” Groves said. “I felt like we really had to earn this one. Culver on the first night, with how well we know each other and the battles we’ve had the past couple of years. They do a great job, so we always have to be prepared. Then to beat a team of Marquette’s caliber. They’re a good team.”
TRITON 47, M.C. MARQUETTE 46
T 15 12 7 13 – 47
M 11 16 12 7 – 46
Triton – Joey Corder 1-4 0-1 2, Clay Yeo 14-25 4-8 32, Bryson Mosier 0-0 2-2 2, Tanner Shepherd 3-11 2-3 9, Seth Glingle 0-0 0-0 0, Cody Shively 0-0 0-0 0, Drew Mosson 0-0 0-0 0, Dillon Meadway 1-1 0-0 2, Skyler Reichert 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 19-46 8-14 47.
Marquette – Braxton Miller 0-3 2-3 2, Jaylen Jamison 0-1 0-0 0, Ritchie Mitchell 1-5 2-2 5, Nathan Flores 5-8 2-3 14, JoVonte Peals 3-3 0-0 7, Malcolm Reed 1-2 2-2 4, Ryan Fazekes 1-7 1-2 3, Jasmin Biberoviki 4-4 3-4 11. Totals 15-33 12-16 46.
Three-point goals – Triton 1-15 (Shepherd), Marquette 4-13 (Flores 2, Mitchell, Peals); Team Fouls – Triton 16, Marquette 17; Turnovers – Triton 8, Marquette 12; Rebounds – Triton 25 (Yeo 9), Marquette 22 (Fazekes 8); Assists – Triton 5 (Corder 2, Yeo 2), Marquette 11 (Miller 5); Steals – Triton (Yeo 5), Marquette 4 (Peals 2); Blocks – Triton 0, Marquette 2 (Biberoviki 2); Records: Triton 17-5, Marquette 18-6[[In-content Ad]]
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