INDIANAPOLIS — Losing Saturday’s Class 1A boys basketball state championship game 55-50 against Borden, one of Marshall County’s top players saw his career come to a close. Scoring just two points in the first half and seven through three quarters, Triton senior Clay Yeo exploded in the fourth, netting 19 of his game-high 26 in the final eight minutes. His production helped him finish his career with 1,992 points, surpassing 2005 Plymouth graduate Kyle Benge’s Marshall County record of 1,979 in the process. Coincidentally, Yeo and Benge each had their prep careers end at the state finals, although Benge’s may have been rougher, ending on a last second, half-court buzzer beater by Washington’s Luke Zeller in overtime. However, while Benge’s stellar prep career landed him at NAIA Division-II’s Huntington University, Yeo’s slender 6-foot-6 frame will take him to Valparaiso University. “Yeo is a legit (Division I) guy,” Borden coach Doc Nash said. “He’s going to Valpo and I expect him to have a good career, once he puts on some strength.” Limited to seven points through the first three quarters, Borden led Triton 28-19, but Nash was reminding his guys of Yeo. And Yeo struck. Following a trey by the Triton star, the Trojans trailed 44-42 with 2:55 remaining, but Borden didn’t bow down, going 9 of 12 at the free throw line down the stretch. Along with their free-throw shooting, Borden also shot 4 of 5 from behind the three-point arc in the fourth, including a 4 of 4 effort between the 5:46 and 3:56 marks. “It was incredibly deflating,” Yeo said of Borden’s three-point shooting, which thwarted a storybook ending to his prep career. “It seemed like we had just crawled back into the game, and was ready to take the lead, then they hit a 3.” That shooting gave Borden it’s first IHSAA state title, while handing Triton its third-straight state finals loss after winning the title in 2008. Despite the defeat, Yeo was ever the leader, encouraging his teammates to smile while receiving their runner-up trophy, a time when many players aren’t feeling very cheery. And that’s the kind of player Triton coach Jason Groves is losing. “As a coach at a small school like this, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to coach a kid like that,” Groves said. “He’s meant everything to this team, this program. He’s accomplished so much. I think the thing I’m most proud of his how he’s matured and become a great person off the court, not just on the court. We’re going to miss him in every way possible. Not just as a basketball player, but as a student at Triton.” In his senior season, Yeo averaged 26.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.9 blocks per game, helping the Trojans reach the state title game after the season began with an 8-5 start. “Through my four years, I'd say this was my most enjoyable one,” Yeo said. “Just being in the senior role and trying to take the leadership of these guys. What people don’t understand is, we’re friends off the court too. We do everything together. I think that will continue after the season. It was a fun season. It didn’t end up like we wanted it too, but it’s been a great ride.” His leadership helped turn the Trojans around, and Groves can only hope some of the younger guys took note. “He’s got the work ethic, teaching the underclassmen what it takes to be successful and how to succeed,” Groves said. “It’s hard to replace someone like that.” In the past two seasons, Yeo has netted 1,329 points. In his four years at Triton, the Trojans went 85-19, winning four Northern State Conference titles, four sectionals, two regionals, and two semistates. Odds are it will take more than one player to replace Yeo’s production, especially with the way he was able to take over a game. “I just got a little bit more aggressive,” Yeo said of his final quarter of being a Triton Trojan basketball player. “I knew we were down and needed to make plays. When I got the ball, I just tried to create and get us to the point where we could have a chance to stay in the game and win.” Triton did stay in the game, but winning it just wasn’t going to happen. “I liked their effort toward the end,” Groves said of his guys. “They really fought, battled and attacked the basket, getting to the free throw line. They did some nice things.” And while Groves will work to take his fifth different team to the state finals, he’ll have to do it without one of the best basketball players Marshall County has ever seen. The fact he’s gone may be tough for Groves, but the rest of the Class 1A coaches aren’t going to be sad to see him go. “The kid is good,” Nash said. “He is good. He’s the best player we’ve played. I think he’s going to have a good career at Valpo. Give him all the credit in the world. We knew (he was coming in the fourth quarter), but what can you do? He’s more athletic and he’s bigger than us.”
