Argos Outlasts Trojans With Buzzer-Beater
March 9, 2020 at 12:22 a.m.
Argos Outlasts Trojans With Buzzer-Beater
By Noah Tong-
With the game winding down and deadlocked at 26, Caleb Ellis passed to Richard in the corner. He drove to the hoop and released the last shot of the game as time expired.
“We have an out-of-bounds play that we run that we make sure we can execute well,” said Argos head coach Gordon Mosson of the final possession. “Jason (Triton head coach Groves) did a good job taking that set play away from us. I’m always harping at them that sometimes you need to make a basketball play.”
“Mike made a basketball play, and we are elated about it.”
It is the second consecutive sectional title for the Dragons. They defeated Triton 47-37 in the sectional championship last year, and effectively reversed a 47-44 loss back in February.
The loss snapped Triton’s four game winning streak.
“It was a defensive struggle,” said Groves. “Offensively we just couldn’t hit. That’s one thing we had been doing well of late. You got to give credit to their defense. We had some looks, but we just didn’t hit.”
Triton’s span of four consecutive timeouts late in the fourth quarter epitomized their inability to score throughout the night. The Dragons led 25-23 at that point, and limited Triton to a single free throw conversion after the flurry of stoppages.
Argos’ 28 points were the fewest points allowed by Triton in one game all season, but the Trojans shot just 16% from the field and 11% from behind the arc.
Still, Ashton Oviedo and Tyson Yates led the scoring charge in a choppy match constantly broken up by fouls, turnovers, and stoppages. Oviedo finished with nine points, while Yates accumulated six.
Much of Argos’ limited offense in the fourth quarter was courtesy of Sam Manikowski. He held off a late surging Triton side with several buckets of his own.
For the Trojans, the night ended in heartbreak despite forcing 10 more turnovers than they committed.
“You can’t fault our effort,” said Groves. “Our guys fought, battled, and scraped. They put themselves in position to be there, but we just couldn’t get over the hump. If we had a couple more shots go down, or a couple things go our way, things might be different.”
Saturday’s loss spells the end of the road for high school seniors Jared Bules, Quentin Amsden, and Tyler Heckaman. They combined for eight points and five rebounds.
“I told our seniors I’m proud of them,” said Groves. “They reset the standard about you work and how you perform. Hopefully the younger guys take that to heart and keep working.”
Argos, now 16-9 and owners of a four-game winning streak, now faces Caston (13-11) in a Class 1A regional semifinal matchup back at Triton at noon Saturday.
The Trojans finish their season with a 14-11 mark.
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With the game winding down and deadlocked at 26, Caleb Ellis passed to Richard in the corner. He drove to the hoop and released the last shot of the game as time expired.
“We have an out-of-bounds play that we run that we make sure we can execute well,” said Argos head coach Gordon Mosson of the final possession. “Jason (Triton head coach Groves) did a good job taking that set play away from us. I’m always harping at them that sometimes you need to make a basketball play.”
“Mike made a basketball play, and we are elated about it.”
It is the second consecutive sectional title for the Dragons. They defeated Triton 47-37 in the sectional championship last year, and effectively reversed a 47-44 loss back in February.
The loss snapped Triton’s four game winning streak.
“It was a defensive struggle,” said Groves. “Offensively we just couldn’t hit. That’s one thing we had been doing well of late. You got to give credit to their defense. We had some looks, but we just didn’t hit.”
Triton’s span of four consecutive timeouts late in the fourth quarter epitomized their inability to score throughout the night. The Dragons led 25-23 at that point, and limited Triton to a single free throw conversion after the flurry of stoppages.
Argos’ 28 points were the fewest points allowed by Triton in one game all season, but the Trojans shot just 16% from the field and 11% from behind the arc.
Still, Ashton Oviedo and Tyson Yates led the scoring charge in a choppy match constantly broken up by fouls, turnovers, and stoppages. Oviedo finished with nine points, while Yates accumulated six.
Much of Argos’ limited offense in the fourth quarter was courtesy of Sam Manikowski. He held off a late surging Triton side with several buckets of his own.
For the Trojans, the night ended in heartbreak despite forcing 10 more turnovers than they committed.
“You can’t fault our effort,” said Groves. “Our guys fought, battled, and scraped. They put themselves in position to be there, but we just couldn’t get over the hump. If we had a couple more shots go down, or a couple things go our way, things might be different.”
Saturday’s loss spells the end of the road for high school seniors Jared Bules, Quentin Amsden, and Tyler Heckaman. They combined for eight points and five rebounds.
“I told our seniors I’m proud of them,” said Groves. “They reset the standard about you work and how you perform. Hopefully the younger guys take that to heart and keep working.”
Argos, now 16-9 and owners of a four-game winning streak, now faces Caston (13-11) in a Class 1A regional semifinal matchup back at Triton at noon Saturday.
The Trojans finish their season with a 14-11 mark.
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