Triton scores first win over Lady Tigers since 1986
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Dale Hubler-dhubler@timesuniononline.com
BOURBON – Friday’s high school girls basketball game between the Triton Lady Trojans and Warsaw Lady Tigers was as one-sided as the series itself – only reversed. On the wrong end of a 22-2 record in the all-time series before the game tipped off, Class 1A No. 6 Triton simply dominated the visting Lady Tigers this time around, using a 23-3 run in the first half en route to a 42-27 win at the Trojan Trench. Warsaw led 4-0 early, and the Lady Trojans were held scoreless for the first four minutes of the contest. Once Triton’s players settled down, however, the hosts ran away with it and scored their first win over the Lady Tigers since 1986. “We had some adjustments in our lineup,” said Triton coach Adam Heckaman, whose team improved to 9-4 on the season, while Warsaw fell to 7-7. “It took a little bit to get used to those changes,” he continued. “They were up 4-0, and then we were able to get some defensive stops and make some plays offensively.” The Lady Trojans, whose starting lineup included freshman Nicole Sechrist instead of senior Krystal Sellers because of a knee injury, scored the final 12 points of the first quarter. Triton led 12-4 after one quarter of play, 23-7 at halftime and 33-12 at the end of the third quarter. “We got a 4-0 start, and we were running our offense with ball reversals, kicking it in and back out, and then we just stopped doing those things,” said Warsaw coach Michelle Harter. “Maybe it was a little immaturity with a young team. We just weren’t patient in our offense, didn’t work for good shots.” The Lady Tigers, whose starting lineup includes two sophomores and five more on the varsity roster, were just 9 of 39 (23 percent) from the field overall, 1 of 11 from the arc, and 8 of 12 at the free throw line. Warsaw had nearly as many turnovers (23) as it did points (27). “We have to take better care of the ball,” said Harter. “We’re giving up too many points because of turnovers.” The Lady Trojans, who were 11 of 33 (33 percent) from the field overall, 5 of 13 from the arc, and 15 of 23 at the charity stripe, scored 24 points off Warsaw’s turnovers Friday night. “Defensively, we rotated better,” Heckaman said when asked what was his team did different after Warsaw held the early lead. “We were able to get out on people, get tips and deny them.” Senior Kylie Mason led Triton with a game-high 18 points, while classmate Becca Kennedy chipped in with 12 points. Junior Jaela Meister and Sellers scored six and four points, respectively, and seniors Hannah Jennings and Lauren Hostrawser each made a free throw in the win. For Warsaw, sophomore Dayton Groninger led the way with 10 points, while seniors Vicki Harris and Pam Miller scored six points each and classmate Erin Clemens chipped in with four points. Senior Jodie Carlson rounded out Warsaw’s scoring with a free throw. The Lady Tigers are in action again tonight when they host LaPorte in a boys/girls doubleheader. The girls game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. Triton hosts 1A No. 3 Oregon-Davis Wednesday and 3A No. 6 John Glenn Friday.
