BOURBON – Triton head coach Jason Groves knows there’s certain advantages in having a first-round by in the sectional. But there’s an obvious disadvantage. The Trojans have a first-round bye and won’t play until Friday when they take on the winner of Tuesday’s Argos-South Central Union Mills game. “I’ve been in both situations, and I'm not sure what's best,” Groves said. “The bye allows you to sit back and wait, prepare and, for us, get healthy. However, playing that first game does allow you to get those first-game jitters out. “I guess I'll let you know Friday night which is better.” Triton hasn’t had a losing streak since the first of the year; twice they lost two in a row in the first nine games of the season, and Groves said there’s been a lot of improvement since the beginning of the year. “First of all, we’re much better defensively in terms of we know what we do well and what we don't do so well,” said Groves. “Also, I think individuals have really made big strides that has allowed us to get better as a team; specifically, Jarrett Kreft and Zac Pitney. “Offensively, we are more balanced. Overall, we are just more confident and more sure of ourselves.” The Trojans are blessed with upperclassmen who lead the team, but two in particular are key to any success Triton enjoys. “Our leaders have been the same since game one, our seniors: Jordan Anderson, Masen Yeo, Jarrett Kreft, Dalton Bailey, Gavin Eads, and Brent Motz,” Groves said. “All of our seniors have been great throughout the year, but Jordan and Masen have learned that, many times, our team goes as they go. They absolutely cannot take games, or even plays, off. Our team feeds off them. “Jarrett Kreft has also become more sure of himself, allowing him to be more vocal and more team centered. In order to win sectional, our senior leadership will really have to be at its best.” Anderson leads the Triton offense with just under 15 points a game, and has tried and made more three-pointers than the rest of the Trojans combined. Yeo is right behind at just over 12 points per contest, and makes a third of his treys. Johnson adds around nine points a game and right at five rebounds a night. One advantage Triton will enjoy is not having to leave the cozy confines of the Trojan Trench unless they qualify for semistate, a road trip any team would be happy to make. But to get there, Groves said his team needs to do what everyone does in the comfort of their homes, just be themselves. “Obviously, it's nice to have the sectional at home just because it's a familiar surrounding,” said Groves. “It's nice to be in a familiar atmosphere in an intense situation like sectional. “We take pride in our home court as well. Then again, we’ve played many of our better games on the road. But the season is not over yet.” “For us to win sectional, we have to be ourselves. We have to be aggressive, be sure of ourselves and our teammates, and play with the confidence we have seen most of the time this year. “Obviously, we have to have players step up and make plays, even if it's under the radar guys like Jarrett Kreft, Zac Pitney, Jarret Martin, Dalton Bailey, or Nate Flenar. We can't get outworked, we can't get outplayed, and we can't get outcoached.” On the other side of the 1A Triton Sectional Bracket, defending champion Oregon-Davis also drew a bye and plays the winner of the North Miami-Culver Community in the semifinals. The championship game is set for 7 p.m. Saturday.
