Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
CULVER -Ê"How 'bout them Trojans?"
That was statement of several Trojan fans after the Triton boys basketball team defeated Oregon-Davis 65-46 in the final game of the sectional Saturday night.
And the Trojans defeated the Bobcats handily. Although Oregon-Davis struck first when Chris Hoeppner netted the first basket, Jim Read quickly tied the score at 2-2.
With 5:19 remaining in the first stanza, Brandon Zeider hit a basket that gave Triton a 4-2 advantage, and it was all downhill for the Oregon-Davis squad from there.
Over the next five minutes, Triton outscored the Bobcats 11-3 to take a 15-5 lead into the second frame. Triton held Oregon-Davis to just 1-of-4 shooting from the field in the quarter.
The Trojans continued their offensive attack in the second quarter, outscoring the Bobcats 15-12. Zeider hit three three-pointers to lead the Trojans into the halftime intermission with a 30-17 advantage.
The third period was much like the second as Triton topped Oregon-Davis 13-10 to take a 43-27 lead into the final quarter of play. Austin Unterbrink and Brian Klingerman each added four points to lead the Trojans in the third.
In the fourth frame, Zeider again provided a spark for the Trojans as he connected on 4 of 4 baskets for eight of Triton's 22 fourth-quarter points.
In the end Triton came out on top of Oregon-Davis 65-46 to advance to Wednesday's regional.
"When you play for the sectional championship, you have to leave it all out there on the court," said Triton coach Joe Bennett. "The guys were very focused from the beginning. We talked about that before the game, and I thought the team responded well."
Zeider led the Trojans with 24 points. He also pulled down five rebounds and grabbed two steals.
"That's the thing I like about Brandon (Zeider)," said Bennett. "He's tough, not just offensively, but all over the court."
Austin Unterbrink provided a spark off the bench for the Trojans as well. He was 6-of-6 shooting with a three-pointer and two steals.
Brian Klingerman added 11 points and five rebounds for Triton, and Joey Potter pulled down 8 boards in the win.
Colin Miller led the Oregon-Davis squad with 24 points and four steals.
I was impressed with Oregon-Davis, especially Colin Miller," said Bennett. "They played a tremendous game with a lot of heart and desire."
Triton, now 15-8, will face 18-5 Michigan City Marquette Wednesday in the regional at Bourbon.
"I think you have to be happy anytime you culminate the season and reach on of your goals," said Bennett of the sectional win. "But there are still goals we want to reach."
TRITON 65
OREGON-DAVIS 46
Triton 15 15 13 22 - 65
Oregon-Davis 5 12 10 19 - 46
Triton FG FT R S Pts.
*Zeider (G) 8-14 5-6 5 2 24
*Klingerman (C) 5-9 1-2 5 1 11
*Salyer (F) 1-2 1-2 3 0 3
*Read (F) 1-3 1-2 2 0 3
*Blackford (G) 0-2 2-2 2 0 2
Potter 2-4 0-0 8 0 4
Unterbrink 6-6 0-0 1 2 13
Bell 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Moore 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Roberts 0-0 0-2 0 0 0
Sauer 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Totals 24-42 10-16 22 5 65
Oregon-Davis FG FT R S Pts.
*Hoeppner 1-4 3-4 4 2 5
*Heeper 1-2 0-0 0 0 3
*Rust 0-2 1-2 6 0 1
*Miller 7-10 10-17 1 4 24
*Rannells 2-9 4-4 2 1 8
Hofman 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Akers 1-3 0-0 1 0 2
Martis 1-1 0-0 0 0 3
Dedecjus 0-0 0-0 1 0 0
Pucel 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Cunningham 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
Totals 13-32 18-27 16 7 46
Three-point goals -ÊTriton 5-10 (Zeider 3-5, Blackford 0-1, Burnett 1-3, Unterbrink 1-1), Oregon-Davis 2-4 (Heeper 1-1, Rannells 0-2, Martis 1-1) Total fouls -ÊTriton 20, Oregon-Davis 13. Fouled out -ÊBell. Turnovers -ÊTriton 9, Oregon-Davis 11.
