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| Triton Central guard Samantha Dewey tries to cut off the momentum of Shelbyville guard Riley Achenbach during the first half of their “Pink Out” game clash Monday in Fairland. (Warren Robison photo) |
Fifth-ranked Tigers savor emotional night with 43-37 victory
By Ross Flint
Staff writer
FAIRLAND — Despite a season-low six points from leading scorer Samantha Dewey, the Class 2A, fifth-ranked Triton Central girls’ basketball team held off Shelbyville, 43-37, on Pink Out Night.
With freshman Alexis Tackett locking down Dewey, other players had to step up. And they did.
Sarah Rogian finished with a double-double (15 points, 15 rebounds) and Allison Gill scored 11 points, including shooting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Gill’s 3-pointer with 3:44 left in the third quarter gave Triton Central (12-5) the lead for good at 29-26.
The Tigers then survived a valiant comeback effort by the Golden Bears (7-12).
“I told the girls, ‘Welcome to playoff basketball,’” Triton Central coach Bryan Graham said. “That’s playoff basketball. Physical, going at each other back and forth, and whoever executes and hits free throws at the end. They (Shelbyville) played their butts off.”
Taylor Pierce’s layup cut Triton Central’s lead to one and the two teams traded leads the rest of the quarter.
The Tigers led 33-31 entering the fourth when they scored the first four points of the fourth.
Rogian knocked down a one-handed baseline jumper and Samantha Felling’s basket with 5:49 remaining gave the Tigers a 37-31 lead. But Allyson Conner’s 3-pointer from the top of the key six seconds later cut Shelbyville’s deficit to one.
“They (Shelbyville) played hard,” Graham said. “Sometimes just playing hard is the most efficient way of trying to stay in games. I thought our girls played hard. I’m excited just to come out of here with a ‘W.’”
Rogian’s put-back gave the Tigers a 39-34 lead with 5:15 remaining before Pierce cut the Golden Bears’ deficit back down to three.
Another put-back by Rogian gave the Tigers a 41-37 lead and with less than 30 seconds left in the game, Triton Central had a chance to put the game out of reach.
Instead, Conner stole the ball, but teammate Morgan Parker couldn’t get her shot to fall and Rogian came up with the rebound with 17 seconds left.
The Golden Bears sent Dewey to the line and she made both with 12 seconds remaining, and Conner tried to get a quick two by driving to the hoop. She missed the shot and Triton Central’s Erika McKee grabbed the rebound to close out the game.
Shelbyville coach Scott Larrabee was proud of how his team battled.
“We did everything execution-wise,” he said. “We missed some shots we’re capable of making. They converted on some plays down the stretch, but I couldn’t be prouder of the team and the growth we’ve had this season. I think it’s evident as we’ve closed out our last several games. It’s been such competitive (games) against good teams.”
Both teams got off to slow starts.
The Tigers turned the ball over 10 times in the first quarter alone and the Golden Bears had nine.
“The night is just tremendous,” Graham said. “It’s so hard to go play a game at about 8:30 (p.m.) after all of the emotion. For both teams. For both teams. It’s more for us because we know about 90 percent of the survivors, everybody and their brother comes to the game, it wears on you. I’m just proud we executed at the end of the game.”
With freshman Alexis Tackett locking down Dewey, other players had to step up. And they did.
Sarah Rogian finished with a double-double (15 points, 15 rebounds) and Allison Gill scored 11 points, including shooting 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Gill’s 3-pointer with 3:44 left in the third quarter gave Triton Central (12-5) the lead for good at 29-26.
“I told the girls, ‘Welcome to playoff basketball,’” Triton Central coach Bryan Graham said. “That’s playoff basketball. Physical, going at each other back and forth, and whoever executes and hits free throws at the end. They (Shelbyville) played their butts off.”
Taylor Pierce’s layup cut Triton Central’s lead to one and the two teams traded leads the rest of the quarter.
The Tigers led 33-31 entering the fourth when they scored the first four points of the fourth.
Rogian knocked down a one-handed baseline jumper and Samantha Felling’s basket with 5:49 remaining gave the Tigers a 37-31 lead. But Allyson Conner’s 3-pointer from the top of the key six seconds later cut Shelbyville’s deficit to one.
“They (Shelbyville) played hard,” Graham said. “Sometimes just playing hard is the most efficient way of trying to stay in games. I thought our girls played hard. I’m excited just to come out of here with a ‘W.’”
Rogian’s put-back gave the Tigers a 39-34 lead with 5:15 remaining before Pierce cut the Golden Bears’ deficit back down to three.
Another put-back by Rogian gave the Tigers a 41-37 lead and with less than 30 seconds left in the game, Triton Central had a chance to put the game out of reach.
Instead, Conner stole the ball, but teammate Morgan Parker couldn’t get her shot to fall and Rogian came up with the rebound with 17 seconds left.
The Golden Bears sent Dewey to the line and she made both with 12 seconds remaining, and Conner tried to get a quick two by driving to the hoop. She missed the shot and Triton Central’s Erika McKee grabbed the rebound to close out the game.
Shelbyville coach Scott Larrabee was proud of how his team battled.
“We did everything execution-wise,” he said. “We missed some shots we’re capable of making. They converted on some plays down the stretch, but I couldn’t be prouder of the team and the growth we’ve had this season. I think it’s evident as we’ve closed out our last several games. It’s been such competitive (games) against good teams.”
Both teams got off to slow starts.
The Tigers turned the ball over 10 times in the first quarter alone and the Golden Bears had nine.
“The night is just tremendous,” Graham said. “It’s so hard to go play a game at about 8:30 (p.m.) after all of the emotion. For both teams. For both teams. It’s more for us because we know about 90 percent of the survivors, everybody and their brother comes to the game, it wears on you. I’m just proud we executed at the end of the game.”
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