Triton Wins Culver Tourney
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
CULVER - For the first time since 1988, the Triton Trojan basketball team won the Culver Tournament.
Cory Monesmith knows how big this win is, because he knows Triton basketball. His brother, Ryan, previously played basketball for Triton. Cory, a senior, led the Trojans with 28 points in their 64-53 win over Argos in the Friday championship game.
With the win, Triton improved to 6-2. It's one of Triton's best starts in recent memory.
"I think it means a great deal for Triton basketball," Cory said. "Triton in the past hasn't been known for its basketball, really. I think this group we have works really hard. I mean, we work our butts off in practice, and it shows out on the floor."
What shows on the floor is Triton's uncanny knack for getting the opposing team in foul trouble.
After getting to the free throw line 31 times against Caston in the first round, the Trojans got to the line 41 times against Argos. Argos had four players foul out and was whistled for 31 fouls. Triton had 17 fouls.
"We got them in foul trouble early, so our coach just said take it at them," Cory said.
The Trojans, who are shooting 75 percent from the line, made just 26 of 41. But considering Argos made only 10 of 17, 26 makes more than got the job done for Triton.
"Once again, we have good quickness and smart kids," Triton coach Kevin O'Rourke said. "That's a big part of our game plan is to use our quickness to try to get other teams to body and get in foul trouble.
"I don't understand why we missed so many free throws. We're a good free throw shooting team. We're shooting 74 or 75 percent on the season."
Triton's defense was solid early. Argos made just 2 of 11 shots from the floor in the first quarter and had all of 14 points with four minutes left in the second quarter. Triton led 24-14 at the time.
"Especially the first quarter and the first five minutes of the second quarter, I thought our defense was outstanding," O'Rourke said.
The last three minutes of the half, the defense rested. Argos rattled off 11 points and closed within seven by halftime, 32-25.
Monesmith and teammate Philip Reed put Argos away in the third quarter. The duo hit back-to-back threes to give Triton the 47-35 lead with three minutes left in the third quarter.
Argos never threatened the lead again.
O'Rourke may be in only his second year at Triton, but he admitted winning this tournament was an important step for his program. Caston had won it the previous six years.
"Gosh, they all seem big," O'Rourke said. "But it's a great win because it's a championship game. Anytime you play in a championship game, you want to win the game. It was a big win for our basketball program to get a championship."
Jeff Rupe added 15 points for Triton, and Reed had 10. Reed led with eight rebounds.
Eric Stults scored 18 for Argos (5-2).
Triton, 6-2, hosts Culver on Jan. Six wins in eight games is nice, O'Rourke said, but much more work remains to be done.
"We talk to the kids about it," he said. "They've earned the respect of people around the northern part of the state. But, our program, if we lose a game, we're back to ground zero. We have to continue to play hard and impress every week." [[In-content Ad]]
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CULVER - For the first time since 1988, the Triton Trojan basketball team won the Culver Tournament.
Cory Monesmith knows how big this win is, because he knows Triton basketball. His brother, Ryan, previously played basketball for Triton. Cory, a senior, led the Trojans with 28 points in their 64-53 win over Argos in the Friday championship game.
With the win, Triton improved to 6-2. It's one of Triton's best starts in recent memory.
"I think it means a great deal for Triton basketball," Cory said. "Triton in the past hasn't been known for its basketball, really. I think this group we have works really hard. I mean, we work our butts off in practice, and it shows out on the floor."
What shows on the floor is Triton's uncanny knack for getting the opposing team in foul trouble.
After getting to the free throw line 31 times against Caston in the first round, the Trojans got to the line 41 times against Argos. Argos had four players foul out and was whistled for 31 fouls. Triton had 17 fouls.
"We got them in foul trouble early, so our coach just said take it at them," Cory said.
The Trojans, who are shooting 75 percent from the line, made just 26 of 41. But considering Argos made only 10 of 17, 26 makes more than got the job done for Triton.
"Once again, we have good quickness and smart kids," Triton coach Kevin O'Rourke said. "That's a big part of our game plan is to use our quickness to try to get other teams to body and get in foul trouble.
"I don't understand why we missed so many free throws. We're a good free throw shooting team. We're shooting 74 or 75 percent on the season."
Triton's defense was solid early. Argos made just 2 of 11 shots from the floor in the first quarter and had all of 14 points with four minutes left in the second quarter. Triton led 24-14 at the time.
"Especially the first quarter and the first five minutes of the second quarter, I thought our defense was outstanding," O'Rourke said.
The last three minutes of the half, the defense rested. Argos rattled off 11 points and closed within seven by halftime, 32-25.
Monesmith and teammate Philip Reed put Argos away in the third quarter. The duo hit back-to-back threes to give Triton the 47-35 lead with three minutes left in the third quarter.
Argos never threatened the lead again.
O'Rourke may be in only his second year at Triton, but he admitted winning this tournament was an important step for his program. Caston had won it the previous six years.
"Gosh, they all seem big," O'Rourke said. "But it's a great win because it's a championship game. Anytime you play in a championship game, you want to win the game. It was a big win for our basketball program to get a championship."
Jeff Rupe added 15 points for Triton, and Reed had 10. Reed led with eight rebounds.
Eric Stults scored 18 for Argos (5-2).
Triton, 6-2, hosts Culver on Jan. Six wins in eight games is nice, O'Rourke said, but much more work remains to be done.
"We talk to the kids about it," he said. "They've earned the respect of people around the northern part of the state. But, our program, if we lose a game, we're back to ground zero. We have to continue to play hard and impress every week." [[In-content Ad]]