Triton Conquers North Judson
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News-Mirror Photo/Jamie Martin
The 2003 Sectional champions. |
By Ron Haramia
Pilot Sports
BOURBON � With more than three times the number of wins than their opponent, North Judson, Triton was the heavy favorite Saturday night to win the Class 2A sectional held at Triton High School.
They did not disappoint.
Riding the adrenaline of their big win over Bremen Friday night and the roaring support of their fans, the �visiting� Trojans caged the Bluejays with a decisive 69-48 victory to claim the school�s first sectional crown in Class 2A.
What is really scary for area teams is that this junior-laden team moves back to Class A next season.
For now, second-year coach Mike McBride and his squad are going to revel in their triumph before returning to their home court next week for the Triton Regional.
After defeating Bremen on Friday, McBride was worried that his team might not be up mentally to play a Bluejay team with just four wins. But he made his point loud and clear before tip-off.
�Coach told us to go right at them, right from the get-go,� said senior Adam Wanemacher.
Mission accomplished.
The left-handed point guard had a lot to do with the Trojans� 14-2 onslaught to start the game, scoring 10 points in that first quarter, including a miraculous shot while falling to the floor after getting fouled.
�I don�t know how that went in,� Wanemacher said. �It was just my day.�
That three-point play was part of a 26-11 first period as the Trojans scored early and often to make no mistake about how this one would end up.
�This means a lot,� said Wanemacher. �This is our last time in 2A. We had the fans. We just kept going after them.�
That they did.
With nine players hitting the scoring column for the designated visiting team, the meaning of this win to the school, and the seniors in particular, was not lost on McBride.
�Last year we were 6-15. We talked when it was over and I said, �If you want to change that, you have to work.� And they did. The kids deserve all of the credit. Tonight we were focused. We would not be denied this opportunity.
�Two years ago, our seniors struggled on the JV team. Last year we had eight wins (JV and varsity combined). But they have worked their tails off. They really make our team. They know their roles, have accepted them and their attitude is team first.�
Wanemacher is the only one out of the five upperclassmen on the roster who starts. But with Kyle Bell out due to a knee injury, Bryan Watkins started in his place, providing strong defense and rebounding. Classmate Brent Savill scored all five of his points in the second quarter when Triton stretched its lead to 23 by the halftime break. Dan Kuhn and Bryan Moriarty also saw significant minutes in the most meaningful game (so far) of their high school careers.
�I love all of the seniors, but Adam is our leader,� said McBride. �I love coaching him. He is a great kid. He is always there. He played big tonight on both ends of the court.�
Wanemacher finished with 16 points, including 6-for-6 from the foul line, and had five rebounds. Junior Todd Blackford had another strong offensive night, scoring a game-high 20 points (three 3s) and hauled down five boards. Braxton Barton added three more 3-pointers and scored 11.
Triton made 15-of-16 from the charity stripe and canned eight 3s for the evening, including four in the first period alone.
North Judson was led by senior Richard Franko�s 15 points and four rebounds. Freshman Adam Richie added eight points and six boards.
�We lost to a better team,� said NJ head coach Jamie Kolkmeier. �We did not want to give them easy baskets, then Barton hits a 3 to start the game. Wanemacher had a big game for them. So did Blackford. We are not a strong offensive team (32 percent shooting on the season), so a nine-point deficit is like an 18-point lead.�
The Bluejays did outscore the Trojans 18-5 in the final period, but by then the Triton bench had been cleared and the outcome assured. The only thing on the THS players� mind was the net-cutting ceremony.
Next Saturday, Triton (14-9) plays Boone Grove (10-11) at noon. The morning game pits Central Noble (10-12) versus Northfield (13-10) at 10 a.m. The two winners come back at 8 p.m. for the regional championship. Look for an in-depth preview later this week in the Pilot News.
TRITON 69, NORTH JUDSON 48
At Bourbon
TRITON (69): Adam Wanemacher 5 6-6 16, Cory McClarnon 1 3-4 5, Todd Blackford 7 3-3 20, Jordan Sauer 0 0-0 0, Kyle Bell 0 0-0 0, Braxton Barton 3 2-2 11, Brent Savill 2 1-1 5, Bryan Watkins 1 0-0 2, Dan Kuhn 2 0-0 5, Josh Moore 1 0-0 3, Isaac Sellers 1 0-0 2, Bryan Moriarty 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 23 15-16 69.
NORTH JUDSON (48): Nathan Coldiron 1 0-0 3, Paul Schumacher 1 0-2 2, Carl Liskey 3 0-1 6, Alex Zembala 1 0-0 3, Jared Brown 0 3-4 3, Adam Richie 3 2-2 8, Justin Fortner 1 0-0 2, Jared Origer 2 0-1 4, Joel Kerns 0 0-0 0, Richard Franko 6 1-2 15, Derek Koch 0 0-0 0, Kyle Radtke 1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 19 6-12 48.
Score by quarters
Triton 26 43 64 69
NJ 11 20 30 48
3-point goals: Triton 8 (Blackford 3, Barton 3, Kuhn, Moore), NJ 4 (Franko 2, Zembala, Coldiron). Total fouls (fouled out): Triton 14, NJ 12.
Records: Triton 14-9, North Judson 4-18.
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