For a second straight night composure was the key word for Triton as another determined opponent made life tough with a solid game plan executed well.

 

Culver put forward a solid effort, but the talented Trojans kept their cool and once again came out on top when the dust had settled. The Cavaliers made it an early defensive struggle, but for a second night Triton got hot shooting behind the arc at precisely the necessary moment.

 

“Our kids executed I told them that I’m extremely proud,” said Culver coach Tom Krueger of his team’s effort. “We got down 10 there in the third and cut it back to 2. The thing you want to look at is improvement from game one to now. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

 

Holding a four point lead Jordan Anderson and Skyler Reichert each hit a pair of critical threes in the second half to give the Trojans the cushion they would need. The Trojan offense jump started and carried the day.

 

“Culver did what they had to do they were physical,” said Triton coach Jason Groves. “Halftime I told our guys to relax and play basketball. They (Culver) were switching up defenses and playing physical but our kids would come down on offense and look over at me. We needed to relax and see what they were in and just play basketball. We did that for the most part in the second half.”

 

It wasn’t any new wrinkle that led to the win, just simple execution.

 

“We didn’t fool them with anything,” said Groves of his team’s halftime adjustments, “We know each other too well most years we play each other three times a year. I remember not long ago we called a set in a game that we hadn’t run in two years and they knew what it was. That’s why in the second half we let them go. We didn’t run any sets, just let them play I think that freed them up to relax a little bit and knock down some shots.”

 

Anderson led the Trojans with 14 points. Masen Yeo and Joey Corder had outstanding floor games, both with six rebonds and Corder adding five assists.

 

Culver was led by Preston Hansel’s game high 16 points. Josh Krsek had 14 and added seven rebounds.

 

“That’s probably an elite 8 team,” said Krueger of Triton. “Our guys left everything they could on the court. Maybe (Triton’s) physicality got to us a little bit at the end. I just can’t say enough about our effort.”

 

Culver ends the year at 6-17, Triton (17-7) takes on Oregon-Davis in the Sectional final on Saturday night.

Triton 47, Culver 37

Score by Quarters

Culver 6 14 25 37

Triton 6 18 35 47

 

Culver (37) – Graham 0 0-0 0, Krueger 1 0-0 3, Harris 0 0-0 0, Hansel 6 4-9 16, Carnegie 1 1-2 3, Valiquet 0 0-0 0, Krsek 6 2-2 14, Schultz 0 1-2 1. Totals 14 8-15 37.

 

Triton (47) – Corder 2 4-5 8, Kaufman 0 0-0 0, Yeo 2 1-2 6, Anderson 4 2-2 14, Sellers 2 1-2 5, Bailey 0 0-0 0, Reichert 3 0-2 8, Johnson 3 0-0 6. Totals 16 8-13 47.

 

3 Pt. FG – Culver 1-4 (Krueger), Triton 7-15 (Anderson 4).

Rebounds – Culver 26 (Krsek 7), Triton 22 (Yeo, Corder 4).

Assists – Culver 3 (Graham, Hansel, Carnegie), Triton 12 (Corder 5).

Steals – Culver 2 (Graham, Krsek), Triton 7 (Corder 4).

Turnovers – Culver 13, Triton 8.

Fouls (Fouled out) – Culver 18, Triton 13.