CULVER - A week ago against Oregon-Davis, Triton was in the driver's seat in the fourth quarter but let a win slip away.

Saturday night at Culver Military, the Trojans didn't let that happen again.

Triton jumped out early and hung tough down the stretch, maintaining a solid lead most of the second half en route to a 63-54 win. The victory evened Triton's record to 1-1 on the young season, while CMA fell to 0-2.

Triton rolled out to a 10-point advantage midway through the second quarter, and kept that margin most of the game. CMA did manage to cut the lead to 33-29 with five minutes to play in the third; Triton put an end to that spurt with an 11-2 run that boosted the margin back up to 44-31. CMA didn't pull any closer than seven the rest of the way.

Triton head coach Kevin O'Rourke, in his second year at the helm of the Trojans, was pleased with his club's performance following win No. 1.

"It was a good win," O'Rourke said. "As a team, we were very focused. We went in there to win - the fourth quarter we were 'playing to win,' instead of 'playing not to lose.' That's important. We finished tonight, and I'm very proud of their work.

"We need to learn, though, that we made costly fouls late in the game," O'Rourke said. "When you're ahead 10, 12 points, the clock is on your side. The last thing you want to do is foul and let them score with the clock stopped."

O'Rourke was referring to the final minutes of the contest, when CMA was fouling to stop the clock and Triton was fouling to...well, Triton was just fouling. The Trojans cashed in on their charity tosses, though - 15 of Triton's19 points in the fourth quarter came off free throws. Those key free throws kept CMA at arm's length when the game was on the line.

The Trojans started out strong, never allowing host Culver Military a lead of any size. Triton built a 15-8 lead after one period. The margin grew to 18-8 when Andy Westaver marked up a duece with 5:17 left in the half, but CMA answered with its strongest run of the night.

The Eagles, with a 13-3 spurt, tied the game at 21 apiece with just under three minutes to play in the second. The run was shortlived, however, as four different Trojans - Cory Monesmith, Jack hackworth, Kyle Gould, and a buzzer-beater by Jeff Rupe - put the visitors back in control with a 30-23 halftime advantage. CMA came no closer than four the rest of the game. Triton padded its margin in the third, due in large part to the shooting prowess of senior Philip Reed.

Reed scored eight of his 13 points in the third, including a pair of three-pointers. Monesmith added four points and Gould two as the Trojans entered the fourth quarter up 44-34.

CMA couldn't cut the Trojan margin much in the fourth, but the Eagles' Lee Harris did his best. Harris, the highlight of the fourth frame, knocked home four of his six three-pointers in the final eight minutes and scored 14 of his 28 points in the same stretch of time. Still, the Triton lead ranged from seven to 12 throughout the stanza, and Harris ended the scoring with a trifecta as the buzzer sounded to account for the 63-54 final.

"I wouldn't trade these kids for the world," O'Rourke said. "You come to just one practice, and you'll see their dedication. I don't think any coach would want to trade."

Triton got 17 points from Monesmith and 13 from Reed, and Reed also led all rebounders with nine. The Trojans, despite being considerably smaller than the Eagles, outrebounded the hosts 34-22.

Triton, 1-1, plays Bremen Nov. 30.

GIRLS - CGA 60, Triton 54

The Lady Trojans lost their first game of the season in heartbreaking style, 60-54 in overtime.

Clinging to a 50-49 lead with 55 seconds to play, the Trojans went into a stall. It almost worked - but not quite.

A CMA steal with under 10 seconds to play led to two free throws after a Triton foul. Culver Girls Academy's Suzanne Workman missed the first charity toss but hammered home the second, tying the game and sending it into overtime. CGA took a 54-50 lead in the extra period with 1:17 to play, and Triton couldn't regain the lead or tie the rest of way. The Lady Eagles of CGA hit six free throws in the final minute, including four in the final 16 seconds, to seal the six-point win.

Triton trailed 10-7 after one and 26-22 at halftime, but came back in the third quarter and outscored the hosts 17-9 to lead 39-35 entering the fourth. CGA outscored Triton 25-15 in the last two sessions for the 60-54 win.

Chris Wanemacher led the Lady Trojans with 14 points. Rachel Yeiter scored 12 and dished out four assists. Triton dropped to 3-1 with the loss. [[In-content Ad]]