Triton's Cinderella season finishes with 66-49 loss to LLC
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
KOKOMO -ÊThe Triton Trojans, coming off a stunning 68-59 win over No. 1 Blue River Valley earlier Saturday, were one game away from repeating what the Triton girls basketball team did about a month ago -Êwin a semistate championship and go to Indianapolis to try to bring home another state title.
Before the Trojans could add to their Cinderella season, they had to face a more experienced tournament team in Lafayette Central Catholic. Central Catholic (21-5) defeated Southern Wells 81-65 earlier in the afternoon.
There were a lot of things going against the Trojans.
They played a tough, hard-fought game in the second contest against a very good team. Central Catholic had more time to rest, and Central Catholic has won two straight semistate championships, including winning the state in 1998.
With all of that said, the Trojans knew they were in for a dogfight.
After playing three good quarters, the Trojans ran out of gas in the fourth and saw their Cinderella season end as the Knights of Central Catholic defeated the Trojans 66-49 in the Class A Kokomo Semistate Championship.
"Even though we didn't win this game tonight, these guys are still state champions," said Triton coach Joe Bennett. "They have the heart and desire of state champions."
With a huge throng of blue and gold on hand, this game just wasn't to be for the Trojans.
The Trojans had a hard time adjusting to 6-foot-8 sophomore Tyler Best. The game plan for the Knights was to pound the ball inside as much as possible, and the Trojans didn't have an answer for them in the first half. Best scored 11 first-half points.
"We knew their size would give us trouble," said Bennett. "They are a very difficult team to play, they have so many weapons."
Lafayette Central Catholic jumped on the Trojans early, scoring the first five points of the game. The Trojans scored their first points of the game and were en route to scoring the next five points to tie the score at five-all with 5:18 left.
The Knights then outscored Triton 10-2 in the rest of the quarter to take a 15-7 lead.
"After the quarter, we really had to make some adjustments on them," said Bennett. "They were pretty much doing what they wanted to on us."
Central Catholic scored first in the second quarter on a Best layup that gave the Knights their biggest lead of the game at 17-7. The Trojans could have folded, but with the heart and determination of this team there wouldn't be such talk.
"I really thought the kids did a nice job of adjusting to what they were doing," Bennett said.
The Trojans trailed by seven to 10 points much of the quarter but found a nice little run to end the half. Trailing 27-17 with 2:34 left, the Trojans finished off the quarter on a 7-2 run to cut the Knights' lead to 29-24.
"We had to change some things in the second quarter, and we did a nice job of getting back in the game," Bennett said.
"Triton didn't give up, they played a great game against us," said Central Catholic coach Chad Dunwoody. "We knew they would give us some problems."
The second half would tell Triton's fate. Would they make a strong comeback en route to the title, or would the Knights make their third state trip to Indy?
The third quarter was a very aggressive quarter for both teams. Both teams traded baskets throughout the quarter. The Trojans cut the lead to five at 35-30 with 4:17 to go on a layup by Jim Read. The quarter ended with Central Catholic holding a five-point lead at 41-36.
"It was a very physical game," said Bennett. "The farther you go in the tournament, the more physical it gets."
The Trojans opened the quarter by scoring on a Brandon Zeider shot that got the Trojans to within two at 41-39. This turn of events gave the Trojan fans new life.
"We had a chance, and that is all you can ask," Bennett said.
Central Catholic then responded with a triple from Russell Trudeau that upped the lead to 44-39 with 7:25 left.
Austin Unterbrink scored on a quick jumper that cut the lead to 46-41 with 6:05 to play. That was the closest the Trojans came to the Knights the rest of the way.
"Our game plan was to push the ball inside, and we did a nice job of that tonight," said Dunwoody. "The intensity in this game was incredible."
The Trojans had to foul most of the quarter, and the Knights made them pay for it. Down the stretch, Central Catholic went 14 of 14 to seal their third straight trip to the state finals.
"We had great free throw shooting down the stretch," said Dunwoody. "We shoot hundreds in practice every day."
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, it was a hard pill to swallow for all Triton fans. A great season came to an end, but the Trojans accomplished a lot this season.
"It would have been a storybook ending if we could have won this," said Bennett. "I am just extremely happy with my players, our fans and our community. We gave it everything we had."
In Zeider's last game at Triton, he went out scoring 21 points to lead the Trojans.
No other Trojan scored in double figures.
"We are going to miss Brandon," said Bennett. "He is a warrior. We have some awfully good seniors."
Lafayette Central Catholic was led by Russell Trudeau, who scored 21 points on 8-of-8 free throw shooting. Best chipped in 19 and pulled down 13 rebounds.
With the win, the Knights move on to try to capture their second state championship in three years. The Knights will take on Dugger (24-3) at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse.
"This is our third straight trip to the state finals (losing to Tecumseh last year)," Dunwoody said.
"Going to Conseco is like a dream come true."
With the loss, the Trojans finish with a 17-9 record.
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 66
TRITON 49
C. Catholic (21-5) 15 14 12 25 - 66
Triton (17-9) 7 17 12 13 - 49
Triton FG FT R A S Pts.
*Blackford 0-0 0-0 1 3 0 0
*Salyer 1-3 0-0 3 1 0 2
*Zeider 5-13 10-12 4 1 1 21
*Klingerman 3-6 0-0 5 0 0 6
*Read 2-5 2-2 2 1 0 6
Unterbrink 1-7 1-2 0 3 0 3
Bell 1-2 0-0 2 0 0 2
Burnett 1-3 0-0 0 1 0 3
Potter 2-5 2-2 3 0 0 6
Sauer 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Moore 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Totals 16-44 15-18 24 10 2 49
C. Catholic FG FT R A S Pts.
*Ri. Gilman 3-5 2-2 4 1 1 8
*Anthrop 3-7 1-2 4 4 1 7
*Trudeau 6-14 8-8 5 0 0 21
*Best 7-14 5-5 13 4 1 19
*Ry. Gilman 1-3 0-0 1 0 1 3
Gutzwiller 0-1 0-0 1 0 0 0
Morrow 0-1 0-0 0 1 0 0
Muller 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0
Arnold 1-2 0-0 1 1 0 2
Kendrick 1-1 0-0 1 1 0 2
Presti 2-2 0-0 0 0 0 4
Richeson 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Totals 24-50 16-17 32 14 7 66
Three-point goals -ÊTriton 2-11 (Unterbrink 0-2, Burnett 1-3, Salyer 0-1, Zeider 1-5), Central Catholic 2-8 (Ri. Gilman 0-1, Anthrop 0-1, Ry. Gilman 1-3, Arnold 0-1, Trudeau 1-1, Best 0-1). Total fouls - Triton 13, Central Catholic 14. Fouled out -Ênone. Turnovers -ÊTriton 9, Central Catholic 13. [[In-content Ad]]
KOKOMO -ÊThe Triton Trojans, coming off a stunning 68-59 win over No. 1 Blue River Valley earlier Saturday, were one game away from repeating what the Triton girls basketball team did about a month ago -Êwin a semistate championship and go to Indianapolis to try to bring home another state title.
Before the Trojans could add to their Cinderella season, they had to face a more experienced tournament team in Lafayette Central Catholic. Central Catholic (21-5) defeated Southern Wells 81-65 earlier in the afternoon.
There were a lot of things going against the Trojans.
They played a tough, hard-fought game in the second contest against a very good team. Central Catholic had more time to rest, and Central Catholic has won two straight semistate championships, including winning the state in 1998.
With all of that said, the Trojans knew they were in for a dogfight.
After playing three good quarters, the Trojans ran out of gas in the fourth and saw their Cinderella season end as the Knights of Central Catholic defeated the Trojans 66-49 in the Class A Kokomo Semistate Championship.
"Even though we didn't win this game tonight, these guys are still state champions," said Triton coach Joe Bennett. "They have the heart and desire of state champions."
With a huge throng of blue and gold on hand, this game just wasn't to be for the Trojans.
The Trojans had a hard time adjusting to 6-foot-8 sophomore Tyler Best. The game plan for the Knights was to pound the ball inside as much as possible, and the Trojans didn't have an answer for them in the first half. Best scored 11 first-half points.
"We knew their size would give us trouble," said Bennett. "They are a very difficult team to play, they have so many weapons."
Lafayette Central Catholic jumped on the Trojans early, scoring the first five points of the game. The Trojans scored their first points of the game and were en route to scoring the next five points to tie the score at five-all with 5:18 left.
The Knights then outscored Triton 10-2 in the rest of the quarter to take a 15-7 lead.
"After the quarter, we really had to make some adjustments on them," said Bennett. "They were pretty much doing what they wanted to on us."
Central Catholic scored first in the second quarter on a Best layup that gave the Knights their biggest lead of the game at 17-7. The Trojans could have folded, but with the heart and determination of this team there wouldn't be such talk.
"I really thought the kids did a nice job of adjusting to what they were doing," Bennett said.
The Trojans trailed by seven to 10 points much of the quarter but found a nice little run to end the half. Trailing 27-17 with 2:34 left, the Trojans finished off the quarter on a 7-2 run to cut the Knights' lead to 29-24.
"We had to change some things in the second quarter, and we did a nice job of getting back in the game," Bennett said.
"Triton didn't give up, they played a great game against us," said Central Catholic coach Chad Dunwoody. "We knew they would give us some problems."
The second half would tell Triton's fate. Would they make a strong comeback en route to the title, or would the Knights make their third state trip to Indy?
The third quarter was a very aggressive quarter for both teams. Both teams traded baskets throughout the quarter. The Trojans cut the lead to five at 35-30 with 4:17 to go on a layup by Jim Read. The quarter ended with Central Catholic holding a five-point lead at 41-36.
"It was a very physical game," said Bennett. "The farther you go in the tournament, the more physical it gets."
The Trojans opened the quarter by scoring on a Brandon Zeider shot that got the Trojans to within two at 41-39. This turn of events gave the Trojan fans new life.
"We had a chance, and that is all you can ask," Bennett said.
Central Catholic then responded with a triple from Russell Trudeau that upped the lead to 44-39 with 7:25 left.
Austin Unterbrink scored on a quick jumper that cut the lead to 46-41 with 6:05 to play. That was the closest the Trojans came to the Knights the rest of the way.
"Our game plan was to push the ball inside, and we did a nice job of that tonight," said Dunwoody. "The intensity in this game was incredible."
The Trojans had to foul most of the quarter, and the Knights made them pay for it. Down the stretch, Central Catholic went 14 of 14 to seal their third straight trip to the state finals.
"We had great free throw shooting down the stretch," said Dunwoody. "We shoot hundreds in practice every day."
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, it was a hard pill to swallow for all Triton fans. A great season came to an end, but the Trojans accomplished a lot this season.
"It would have been a storybook ending if we could have won this," said Bennett. "I am just extremely happy with my players, our fans and our community. We gave it everything we had."
In Zeider's last game at Triton, he went out scoring 21 points to lead the Trojans.
No other Trojan scored in double figures.
"We are going to miss Brandon," said Bennett. "He is a warrior. We have some awfully good seniors."
Lafayette Central Catholic was led by Russell Trudeau, who scored 21 points on 8-of-8 free throw shooting. Best chipped in 19 and pulled down 13 rebounds.
With the win, the Knights move on to try to capture their second state championship in three years. The Knights will take on Dugger (24-3) at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse.
"This is our third straight trip to the state finals (losing to Tecumseh last year)," Dunwoody said.
"Going to Conseco is like a dream come true."
With the loss, the Trojans finish with a 17-9 record.
LAFAYETTE CENTRAL CATHOLIC 66
TRITON 49
C. Catholic (21-5) 15 14 12 25 - 66
Triton (17-9) 7 17 12 13 - 49
Triton FG FT R A S Pts.
*Blackford 0-0 0-0 1 3 0 0
*Salyer 1-3 0-0 3 1 0 2
*Zeider 5-13 10-12 4 1 1 21
*Klingerman 3-6 0-0 5 0 0 6
*Read 2-5 2-2 2 1 0 6
Unterbrink 1-7 1-2 0 3 0 3
Bell 1-2 0-0 2 0 0 2
Burnett 1-3 0-0 0 1 0 3
Potter 2-5 2-2 3 0 0 6
Sauer 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Moore 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Totals 16-44 15-18 24 10 2 49
C. Catholic FG FT R A S Pts.
*Ri. Gilman 3-5 2-2 4 1 1 8
*Anthrop 3-7 1-2 4 4 1 7
*Trudeau 6-14 8-8 5 0 0 21
*Best 7-14 5-5 13 4 1 19
*Ry. Gilman 1-3 0-0 1 0 1 3
Gutzwiller 0-1 0-0 1 0 0 0
Morrow 0-1 0-0 0 1 0 0
Muller 0-0 0-0 0 1 0 0
Arnold 1-2 0-0 1 1 0 2
Kendrick 1-1 0-0 1 1 0 2
Presti 2-2 0-0 0 0 0 4
Richeson 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Totals 24-50 16-17 32 14 7 66
Three-point goals -ÊTriton 2-11 (Unterbrink 0-2, Burnett 1-3, Salyer 0-1, Zeider 1-5), Central Catholic 2-8 (Ri. Gilman 0-1, Anthrop 0-1, Ry. Gilman 1-3, Arnold 0-1, Trudeau 1-1, Best 0-1). Total fouls - Triton 13, Central Catholic 14. Fouled out -Ênone. Turnovers -ÊTriton 9, Central Catholic 13. [[In-content Ad]]