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CULVER -ÊAfter the Triton girls basketball team won the state tournament last weekend, the Triton boys squad has a lot to live up to. The Trojan boys cleared the first obstacle in following the girls' footsteps by defeating Argos (the same team the girls beat in the first round of the sectional), 52-41 in the first round of the sectional Tuesday in Culver.
"There's been a lot of stuff going on this week," said Triton coach Joe Bennett. "It has been hard to maintain our focus with all the success of the girls. We are very proud of them."
Although the final score showed an 11-point victory, the road to victory was not easy for the Trojans.
After Triton took an 11-7 lead in the first quarter, Rob Salyer netted the first basket of the second frame. Then Jim Read tossed in another. After Salyer stole the ball and headed down the court for a break-away lay up, Triton held a 17-8 lead and it looked as if the Trojans were going to run all over the Dragons.
However, Argos surprised the Trojans and made a comeback. Dustin O'Dell answered Salyer's steal and basket with a three-pointer.
Then Bill Robertson got warmed up for the Dragons. He hit two straight baskets from behind the arc and was fouled on the second one. Robertson connected on the free throw after the foul for a four-point play to tie the score at 18.
Tony Patterson hit another basket for Argos to give the Dragons a 20-18 lead, and it was a dogfight for the last three minutes of the first half.
Triton's Joey Potter hit a basket to tie the score at 20, but then Josh VanVactor hit a trey to give Argos the lead again. Jake Burnett and Brian Klingerman combined to tie the score at 23 with 1:20 left in the quarter.
VanVactor nailed a three-point goal with just four seconds left in the quarter to give Argos a 26-23 lead at the half.
In the second frame, Argos was 6-of-10 shooting from the field, but the Dragons were a perfect 5 of 5 from three-point land. Triton was 5 of 11 from the field and 0 of 4 from three-point range.
"Defensively, we had some lapses mentally,"' said Bennett. "We allowed them some open threes. They are good shooters, and if you leave them open, they will hurt you."
The break at the half did the Trojans good. Triton started the third quarter with an 8-0 run on 4-of-4 shooting from Klingerman, Read and Tyson Blackford.
Brandon Zeider, who got in foul trouble early and sat out much of the first and second quarters, hit hit first basket of the night with 1:29 left on the third-quarter clock. He then made two free throws after Brandon Shafer of Argos was slapped with a technical foul.
After three quarters of play, Triton had a 37-33 advantage.
But the deficit did not squelch the fire in Argos' belly. The Dragons fought back again in the fourth quarter and outscored Triton 8-4 in the first 5:02 of the stanza to tie the score at 41.
However, the Trojans held the Dragons scoreless for the rest of the game and finished the contest with a 11-0 run to reach the 52-41 final score.
"In the secon half, we matched up on their shooters a bit better," said Bennett.
Potter led the Trojans with 11 points, but Triton got four or more points from six other players as well. Zeider finished the night with nine points.
"We have tried to be more balanced in our play," said Bennett. "Tonight, we had to be after Brandon got two fouls in the first quarter. And he responded well; he's a senior leader and he's mentally tough."
Triton also outrebounded the Dragons 25-13.
"We just get in the paint," said Bennett. "That is something that has been an advantage for us all year. On average, we have outrebounded our opponents by 11 rebounds a game.
"We have the personnel to do it,and that's a good thing. That way we are able to get some extra possessions."
Triton now moves on to face South Central (9-13) in the first game of Friday's sectional semifinal.
"In the sectional, it doesn't matter who you play," said Bennett, "it's going to be a dogfight. You will have to play three tough games to win the sectional no matter what class it is or what teams are playing."
TRITON 52, ARGOS 41
Triton (13-8) 11 12 14 15 - 52
Argos (6-14) 7 19 7 8 - 41
Triton FG FT R S Pts.
*Zeider (G) 3-5 3-4 5 1 9
*Klingerman (C) 4-6 0-0 3 0 8
*Blackford (G) 2-3 2-2 3 0 8
*Salyer (F) 3-8 0-0 2 3 6
*Read (F) 3-7 1-3 6 0 7
Potter 4-5 3-3 2 0 11
Burnett 1-5 1-2 2 0 4
Unterbrink 0-3 0-0 1 0 0
Bell 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Totals 20-42 10-14 25 5 52
Argos FG FT R S Pts.
*Vanvactor (G) 3-12 1-2 3 2 9
*Robertson (G) 4-13 2-3 1 3 13
*Zentz (G) 0-0 0-0 2 0 0
*Bailey (F) 1-1 2-2 0 0 4
*Braasch (F) 1-3 0-0 2 0 3
Shafer 1-1 0-0 4 0 2
O'Dell 3-6 0-0 1 1 8
Patterson 1-3 0-0 0 1 2
Totals 14-39 5-7 13 7 41
Three-point goals -ÊTriton 2-8 (Blackford 1-1, Burnett 1-4, Potter 0-1, Zeider 0-1, Unterbrink 0-1), Argos 8-13 (Vanvactor 2-3, Robertson 3-5, Braasch 1-1, O'Dell 2-4). Total fouls -ÊTriton 11, Argos 14. Fouled out -ÊNone. Technical fouls -ÊArgos 1 (Shafer). Turnovers -ÊTriton 11, Argos 10.
Other score: S. Central 50, LaCrosse 42
