Triton Trojans Hope To Rebound From Tough Year
November 16, 2018 at 11:31 p.m.
Triton Trojans Hope To Rebound From Tough Year
By Aaron [email protected]
Triton had its first losing season since 2004, when head coach Jason Groves took over for the last four games of the season.
Since then, Groves has a 231-87 record, three semistate titles and a state championship on his resumé.
Yet, last season, the Trojans went 7-15 and lost 63-45 to Oregon-Davis in the second round of the sectional.
“We didn’t shoot the ball very well,” said Groves, who is heading into his 14th full season with Triton. “I’m not sure we did much of anything well.”
Groves attributed his team’s struggles to youthfulness. They lost leading scorer Ross Johnson to graduation, as well as Dylan Hensley and Drew Stichter.
Still, the Trojans have a host of returners and newcomers. Triton will rely on junior Quentin Amsden to run the point guard position, while senior Beau Hepler will move to the shooting guard spot.
Big in the post will be junior Tyler Heckaman, Luke Richman and senior Tye Orsund.
Heckaman will miss the first third of the season after a violation of Triton’s athletic handbook.
Orsund is new to the squad, but has already showcased his athletic abilities as a standout wide receiver on Triton’s football team.
“Athletically, he’s gonna help, and we’ve got a lot of other kids ready to step in,” Groves said.
Jared Bules is one of those kids. He’ll provide valuable experience to a team that hasn’t had much varsity experience.
New to varsity action will be Chase Butler and Kaden Atkins, seniors who played on the JV team last season.
Sophomore Keegan Westafer and junior Trenton Kreft also will get valuable minutes for the Trojans.
In addition to their youth, the Trojans are a smaller team. They’ll try to use that lack of height with small ball.
“We’re definitely gonna try to get after you defensively,” Groves said. “We’re gonna focus on our ball pressure and transitioning from zone to man.”
Triton also will emphasize rebounding and drawing fouls, two elements with which the team struggled last season.
“We’re gonna have to find a way to get to the free throw line,” Groves said.
It won’t be just one ore two players getting to the stripe.
“It’s gonna have to be balanced,” Groves said. “We’re gonna have to get it from wherever we can. We can shoot the ball better than we did last year.”
Groves has six sectional championships and four regional titles to his name. However, he is more focused on self-betterment than hardware.
“One thing we talk about is striving for excellence in everything we do,” Groves said. “Being positive on the court, off the court, being young men of integrity, (and) putting others first.
“If we do those things, on and off the court, the wins are gonna come.”
Triton will open its season Wednesday at Oregon-Davis.
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Triton had its first losing season since 2004, when head coach Jason Groves took over for the last four games of the season.
Since then, Groves has a 231-87 record, three semistate titles and a state championship on his resumé.
Yet, last season, the Trojans went 7-15 and lost 63-45 to Oregon-Davis in the second round of the sectional.
“We didn’t shoot the ball very well,” said Groves, who is heading into his 14th full season with Triton. “I’m not sure we did much of anything well.”
Groves attributed his team’s struggles to youthfulness. They lost leading scorer Ross Johnson to graduation, as well as Dylan Hensley and Drew Stichter.
Still, the Trojans have a host of returners and newcomers. Triton will rely on junior Quentin Amsden to run the point guard position, while senior Beau Hepler will move to the shooting guard spot.
Big in the post will be junior Tyler Heckaman, Luke Richman and senior Tye Orsund.
Heckaman will miss the first third of the season after a violation of Triton’s athletic handbook.
Orsund is new to the squad, but has already showcased his athletic abilities as a standout wide receiver on Triton’s football team.
“Athletically, he’s gonna help, and we’ve got a lot of other kids ready to step in,” Groves said.
Jared Bules is one of those kids. He’ll provide valuable experience to a team that hasn’t had much varsity experience.
New to varsity action will be Chase Butler and Kaden Atkins, seniors who played on the JV team last season.
Sophomore Keegan Westafer and junior Trenton Kreft also will get valuable minutes for the Trojans.
In addition to their youth, the Trojans are a smaller team. They’ll try to use that lack of height with small ball.
“We’re definitely gonna try to get after you defensively,” Groves said. “We’re gonna focus on our ball pressure and transitioning from zone to man.”
Triton also will emphasize rebounding and drawing fouls, two elements with which the team struggled last season.
“We’re gonna have to find a way to get to the free throw line,” Groves said.
It won’t be just one ore two players getting to the stripe.
“It’s gonna have to be balanced,” Groves said. “We’re gonna have to get it from wherever we can. We can shoot the ball better than we did last year.”
Groves has six sectional championships and four regional titles to his name. However, he is more focused on self-betterment than hardware.
“One thing we talk about is striving for excellence in everything we do,” Groves said. “Being positive on the court, off the court, being young men of integrity, (and) putting others first.
“If we do those things, on and off the court, the wins are gonna come.”
Triton will open its season Wednesday at Oregon-Davis.
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