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LAFAYETTE ― Triton senior guard Gage Riffle and his team never panicked after struggling to connect from 3-point range in the first half.
It took 10 misses before one shot from beyond the arc fell in the third quarter and turned the tide into what became a climatic final minute for the IHSAA Class 1A semi-state championship against North Vermillion Saturday, March 21 at the Crawley Center in Lafayette.
"I just had to stay confident because I'm a shooter and be a team player," Riffle said.
A lane violation was called on North Vermillion during a made free throw by Falcons' leading scorer, Teagan Leonard, with 1:06 in regulation, taking away a point that would have given North Vermillion the lead. The unforced error by the Falcons opened an opportunity for Riffle, who had his hands ready to fire after senior Julian Swanson drew a double team near the left elbow.
Swanson swung the ball to Riffle who fired and swished a 3-pointer, putting his team ahead, 48-45, with 46.5 seconds to play.
More: IHSAA class 1A semi-state boys basketball preview
More: Patrick, Riffle lead Triton boys basketball into IHSAA semi-state
Riffle's go-ahead bucket helped secure Triton the victory over North Vermillion 51-45, capturing the program's sixth IHSAA Class 1A semi-state title in the process.
Triton (26-3) will play Barr-Reeve in IHSAA Class 1A state championship game next Saturday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m. at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Riffle finished with a game high 14 points, while Swanson and Jayden Overmyer each added 10 points to overcome its early shooting struggles.
"We told our kids that this was going to be hard," Triton coach Jason Groves said. "Going to a state finals is going to be hard, and you have to go out there and embrace it and enjoy it. I thought they responded really well."
Triton overcame its lack of size in the post against North Vermillion led by its 6-foot-6 senior post Andre Buchhaas. Buchhaas finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, but Triton limited its mistakes and turned the ball over just five times.
Sophomore Jamison Swanson went 2-for-2 from 3-point range and Triton started finding its rhythm offensively after trailing 30-26 with 2:52 in the third quarter.
"It's the greatest feeling we've ever had," Riffle said.
Triton managed to score on three alley-oops as well with Swanson feeding Overmyer. Tactful plays and high percentage shots ultimately softened the stretches where jumpers weren't falling.
"A lot if it is just at practice," Overmyer said. "We continued to work well and run it. We've ran it all year and we keep working on it."
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Triton beats North Vermillion in IHSAA Class 1A semistate championship
Continue reading...
It took 10 misses before one shot from beyond the arc fell in the third quarter and turned the tide into what became a climatic final minute for the IHSAA Class 1A semi-state championship against North Vermillion Saturday, March 21 at the Crawley Center in Lafayette.
"I just had to stay confident because I'm a shooter and be a team player," Riffle said.
A lane violation was called on North Vermillion during a made free throw by Falcons' leading scorer, Teagan Leonard, with 1:06 in regulation, taking away a point that would have given North Vermillion the lead. The unforced error by the Falcons opened an opportunity for Riffle, who had his hands ready to fire after senior Julian Swanson drew a double team near the left elbow.
Swanson swung the ball to Riffle who fired and swished a 3-pointer, putting his team ahead, 48-45, with 46.5 seconds to play.
More: IHSAA class 1A semi-state boys basketball preview
More: Patrick, Riffle lead Triton boys basketball into IHSAA semi-state
Riffle's go-ahead bucket helped secure Triton the victory over North Vermillion 51-45, capturing the program's sixth IHSAA Class 1A semi-state title in the process.
Triton (26-3) will play Barr-Reeve in IHSAA Class 1A state championship game next Saturday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m. at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Riffle finished with a game high 14 points, while Swanson and Jayden Overmyer each added 10 points to overcome its early shooting struggles.
"We told our kids that this was going to be hard," Triton coach Jason Groves said. "Going to a state finals is going to be hard, and you have to go out there and embrace it and enjoy it. I thought they responded really well."
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Triton overcame its lack of size in the post against North Vermillion led by its 6-foot-6 senior post Andre Buchhaas. Buchhaas finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, but Triton limited its mistakes and turned the ball over just five times.
Sophomore Jamison Swanson went 2-for-2 from 3-point range and Triton started finding its rhythm offensively after trailing 30-26 with 2:52 in the third quarter.
"It's the greatest feeling we've ever had," Riffle said.
Triton managed to score on three alley-oops as well with Swanson feeding Overmyer. Tactful plays and high percentage shots ultimately softened the stretches where jumpers weren't falling.
"A lot if it is just at practice," Overmyer said. "We continued to work well and run it. We've ran it all year and we keep working on it."
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Triton beats North Vermillion in IHSAA Class 1A semistate championship
Continue reading...
