Trojans Looking For Some Revenge Against Cavaliers
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Anthony [email protected]
Following their 65-59 win over Tippecanoe Valley on Feb. 15, there was a possibility the Triton Trojans had played their final home game of the season.
However, by winning Class 1A Sectional 51 at Culver Community High School last week, senior Clay Yeo and the Trojans are returning home for Saturday’s regional.
“We have great fans and they will show up and support us – that’s for sure,” Triton coach Jason Groves said. “It’s kind of special for these seniors. They know this will be the last time they’re playing in front of their home fans. It’s a good situation for us and we’re excited to be back home.”
The Trojans earned that return trip home by winning their sixth-straight sectional and will look to get some revenge on the team that ended their season a year ago.
A year after going to the state finals, where they lost to Indianapolis Metropolitan, the Trojans fell 64-60 to Fort Wayne Canterbury in double-overtime of last season’s regional title game at Triton.
Saturday, Triton (17-5) and Canterbury (15-8) meet up in the 12:30 p.m. game, following the 10:30 a.m. game between No. 4 Pioneer (21-3) and 21st Century Gary (15-7).
“They ended our season last year and it’s always nice to try to get revenge, but it’s two different teams this year,” Groves said about the Canterbury matchup. “We have to focus on what we need to do to beat this team and not worry too much about last year.”
Gone from Canterbury is its leading scorer from that championship game, as Davis Rao netted 24 against Triton, while Kai Foday also graduated, having scored 14 in last year’s win.
“They lost two of their guys, but it’s basically the same team, because they played very similar style,” Groves said. “They’re really good off the dribble. They shoot the ball really, really well. They’re scrappy, defensively. They remind me a lot of last year’s team.”
Canterbury also has a new coach, as Scott Kreiger moved over from the girls basketball team to take over for Dan Kline.
But back is 6-foot-5 senior Trent VanHorn, who had 16 points and eight assists the last time he faced the Trojans.
“Off the dribble, they remind me of New Prairie with the way they can create off the dribble and things like that,” Groves said. “With a player like VanHorn, he’s very special. He’s one of the better players we’re going to face this year. He reminds me a little of Clay. We’re going to have to find a way to contain him and control him.”
VanHorn and the 6-foot-6 Yeo will be the two stars, but VanHorn may not be seen on Yeo all that much.
“(Senior Joey Pedro) and (junior Tommy McNabb), I noticed they guard the other team’s best players,” Groves said. “They have a lot of guys that are scrappy. It’s going to take a team effort.”
Along with VanHorn’s 6-5 frame, Pedro comes in at 6-6 and McNabb is 6-2, along with a 6-4 senior Trevor Jacobs and 6-8 sophomore Andrew Kus.
With so much size, Triton will likely need to hit some outside shots, which it struggled with in its 47-46 sectional title win over No. 8 Michigan City Marquette, making just 1 of 15 three-pointers.
The last time they met Canterbury, the Trojans made just 1 of 13 attempts from beyond the arc, so that will need to change.
“Hopefully that was just something that was a part of our kids’ nerves,” Groves said about last week’s poor percentage from three-point land. “We got that out of our system. There’s a cycle, so hopefully we’re off that cycle and hit well this week. We’re going to have to have some guys step up and hit some shots.”
On the year, Yeo’s been carrying the load, leading Triton with 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
He’s also led the team in field-goal percentage (56.5), but he’d surely share the load with a teammate.
Junior Tanner Shepherd has been there at times, averaging 11.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, but the team’s next leading scorer is senior Seth Glingle, with 4.6 points per game.
Winners of nine-straight, the Trojans are averaging 55.3 points per game, while Canterbury averages 60.9.
The only common opponent the teams have is Bethany Christian, which Triton defeated 72-36 in Waterford Mills on Dec. 11, while Canterbury defeated the Bruins 66-51 on Dec. 21 in Fort Wayne, then 66-45 in the semifinals of Sectional 52 at Hamilton High School.
In the other half of Saturday’s bracket, Pioneer has won 12-straight games and won its three Sectional 50 games by an average margin of 27 points, qualifying for its fourth-straight regional.
“Pioneer’s really good,” Groves said. “We played them two years ago in the first game of the regional, and a lot of those kids were sophomores. That was a year we went to state and they gave us a good game (losing 60-42). They’re experienced. This is their fourth-straight time at the regional, so I think they feel like they have a really good chance of winning this thing.”
21st Century Gary is a charter school in only its second season of IHSAA play, falling to Kouts in last year’s sectional title game.
This year, 21st Century Gary won Sectional 49 by defeating No. 5 Kouts on their home court in the first round (56-49), then downing Morgan Township in the semis (54-48) and Washington Township in the final (62-59).
“They’re very athletic,” Groves said about the Cougars, who are averaging 67.3 points per game. “They like to get up-and-down, press and can score.”
Before worrying about who they’d face in the 7:30 p.m. finals, the Trojans must first concern themselves with the Canterbury Cavaliers.
“It’s an interesting field,” Groves said. “It’s wide open and everyone has a chance to win.”[[In-content Ad]]
Following their 65-59 win over Tippecanoe Valley on Feb. 15, there was a possibility the Triton Trojans had played their final home game of the season.
However, by winning Class 1A Sectional 51 at Culver Community High School last week, senior Clay Yeo and the Trojans are returning home for Saturday’s regional.
“We have great fans and they will show up and support us – that’s for sure,” Triton coach Jason Groves said. “It’s kind of special for these seniors. They know this will be the last time they’re playing in front of their home fans. It’s a good situation for us and we’re excited to be back home.”
The Trojans earned that return trip home by winning their sixth-straight sectional and will look to get some revenge on the team that ended their season a year ago.
A year after going to the state finals, where they lost to Indianapolis Metropolitan, the Trojans fell 64-60 to Fort Wayne Canterbury in double-overtime of last season’s regional title game at Triton.
Saturday, Triton (17-5) and Canterbury (15-8) meet up in the 12:30 p.m. game, following the 10:30 a.m. game between No. 4 Pioneer (21-3) and 21st Century Gary (15-7).
“They ended our season last year and it’s always nice to try to get revenge, but it’s two different teams this year,” Groves said about the Canterbury matchup. “We have to focus on what we need to do to beat this team and not worry too much about last year.”
Gone from Canterbury is its leading scorer from that championship game, as Davis Rao netted 24 against Triton, while Kai Foday also graduated, having scored 14 in last year’s win.
“They lost two of their guys, but it’s basically the same team, because they played very similar style,” Groves said. “They’re really good off the dribble. They shoot the ball really, really well. They’re scrappy, defensively. They remind me a lot of last year’s team.”
Canterbury also has a new coach, as Scott Kreiger moved over from the girls basketball team to take over for Dan Kline.
But back is 6-foot-5 senior Trent VanHorn, who had 16 points and eight assists the last time he faced the Trojans.
“Off the dribble, they remind me of New Prairie with the way they can create off the dribble and things like that,” Groves said. “With a player like VanHorn, he’s very special. He’s one of the better players we’re going to face this year. He reminds me a little of Clay. We’re going to have to find a way to contain him and control him.”
VanHorn and the 6-foot-6 Yeo will be the two stars, but VanHorn may not be seen on Yeo all that much.
“(Senior Joey Pedro) and (junior Tommy McNabb), I noticed they guard the other team’s best players,” Groves said. “They have a lot of guys that are scrappy. It’s going to take a team effort.”
Along with VanHorn’s 6-5 frame, Pedro comes in at 6-6 and McNabb is 6-2, along with a 6-4 senior Trevor Jacobs and 6-8 sophomore Andrew Kus.
With so much size, Triton will likely need to hit some outside shots, which it struggled with in its 47-46 sectional title win over No. 8 Michigan City Marquette, making just 1 of 15 three-pointers.
The last time they met Canterbury, the Trojans made just 1 of 13 attempts from beyond the arc, so that will need to change.
“Hopefully that was just something that was a part of our kids’ nerves,” Groves said about last week’s poor percentage from three-point land. “We got that out of our system. There’s a cycle, so hopefully we’re off that cycle and hit well this week. We’re going to have to have some guys step up and hit some shots.”
On the year, Yeo’s been carrying the load, leading Triton with 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
He’s also led the team in field-goal percentage (56.5), but he’d surely share the load with a teammate.
Junior Tanner Shepherd has been there at times, averaging 11.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game, but the team’s next leading scorer is senior Seth Glingle, with 4.6 points per game.
Winners of nine-straight, the Trojans are averaging 55.3 points per game, while Canterbury averages 60.9.
The only common opponent the teams have is Bethany Christian, which Triton defeated 72-36 in Waterford Mills on Dec. 11, while Canterbury defeated the Bruins 66-51 on Dec. 21 in Fort Wayne, then 66-45 in the semifinals of Sectional 52 at Hamilton High School.
In the other half of Saturday’s bracket, Pioneer has won 12-straight games and won its three Sectional 50 games by an average margin of 27 points, qualifying for its fourth-straight regional.
“Pioneer’s really good,” Groves said. “We played them two years ago in the first game of the regional, and a lot of those kids were sophomores. That was a year we went to state and they gave us a good game (losing 60-42). They’re experienced. This is their fourth-straight time at the regional, so I think they feel like they have a really good chance of winning this thing.”
21st Century Gary is a charter school in only its second season of IHSAA play, falling to Kouts in last year’s sectional title game.
This year, 21st Century Gary won Sectional 49 by defeating No. 5 Kouts on their home court in the first round (56-49), then downing Morgan Township in the semis (54-48) and Washington Township in the final (62-59).
“They’re very athletic,” Groves said about the Cougars, who are averaging 67.3 points per game. “They like to get up-and-down, press and can score.”
Before worrying about who they’d face in the 7:30 p.m. finals, the Trojans must first concern themselves with the Canterbury Cavaliers.
“It’s an interesting field,” Groves said. “It’s wide open and everyone has a chance to win.”[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092