CULVER - Kevin O'Rourke was caught off guard.

Here was Channel 16 sports anchor Chuck Freeby holding his television camera and asking the Triton basketball coach for a short interview. O'Rourke told Freeby that this was new to him. Usually only one or two reporters talk to him, but now he was doing a television interview.

But when your team: a) starts off 5-2, b) beats 5-1 Caston 75-59 and c) ends Caston's six-year run as Culver Tournament champions, people take notice.

Triton did all of these things Thursday night. They improved to 5-2 with a 16-point win over a physical Caston team in the Culver Tournament. Caston had won the tournament six straight years. Triton knocked the bully off the streetcorner.

"I don't know the history of the streak very well, but it is nice to beat a quality basketball team like Caston," O'Rourke said.

The Trojans won this one the same two ways they have been winning their others: making few turnovers and hitting free throws.

The Trojans turned the ball over 12 times and made 23 free throws en route to the win.

"Every game it's important to take care of the basketball, no matter who you're playing," O'Rourke said. "I like to stay under 10 (turnovers). That's (12) not too bad against a defensive-minded team like Caston.

"We're not a very big team. The biggest guy we start is 6 feet tall. We have some quickness, though, and we have some kids who can shoot the ball. We try to use our quickness to get to the free throw line, and usually in the fourth quarter, that pays off."

Triton led 21-19 after the first quarter, but extended it to 10 (39-29) at halftime. Caston threw the ball away six times and made 3 of 10 shots from the floor in the second quarter, and Triton took advantage.

The Trojans opened the second half with two key three-point plays in the first two minutes. Philip Reed scored a bucket and was fouled. He hit his free throw, and Triton led 42-31.

Less than a minute later, teammate Cory Monesmith hit a basket inside and drew a foul. He made his free throw, and Triton led 47-32.

The Trojans led by 10 or more the rest of the way.

"The second half, the first two minutes are always important," O'Rourke said. "You want to re-establish your dominance. You want to re-establish some momentum.

"We took a three early, the first or second shot. I'm not a big believer of taking quick threes to start a half, because I think you want to go to the basket and make things happen. We did that and got two three-point plays.

"That's double jeopardy in a sense. Not only do we put three points on the board (each time), we put two fouls on them. That comes into play in the fourth quarter."

The Trojans made all six of their free throws in the third quarter and finished 23 of 31 from the line in the game.

"Our veteran kids were 6 for 6 from the free throw line in the third quarter," O'Rourke said. "That's important. When you hit your free throws when teams try to make a run at you, that takes a little steam out of their game."

Monesmith led Triton with 23 points, and Jeff Rupe added 17. Reed had 16.

Before this game, Caston and Triton each had losses to the same opponent - a solid Plymouth team. Now Triton guaranteed Caston won't win the Culver Tournament for the seventh year in a row.

Triton plays Argos tonight in the championship.

"I'm not surprised, only because the quality of kids we have and the belief I have in our players," O'Rourke said. "But I am surprised because Caston is a very, very good basketball team and a well-coached baketball team.

"This one doesn't mean a whole lot if we come back and are unsuccessful the next night." [[In-content Ad]]