In 2A boys basketball sectional championship games from Saturday, there were any number of teams who could have won Sectional 44 at South Ripley, but after the final horn sounded Saturday night, it was Triton Central who raised the trophy for a second consecutive year. The Tigers beat the host Raiders 40-35.
Coach Tyler Theising’s South Ripley bunch led 9-6 at the end of the first quarter and 17-14 at the half. The Raiders never hit a two-point bucket during the first 16 minutes.
Blaine Ward scored six points on a pair of treys, both in the first quarter. Teammate Zach Gentile hit a triple and two freebies for five points in the second period. Cole Henry and Nick Schwarte both struck deep once for three points each.
Triton Central’s Caleb Miller put up six points for the Tigers, all in the second stanza. Jameson Palmer and Silas Blair both made a first-quarter three ball.
The difference was down to two by the end of the third with the Raiders clinging to a 27-25 lead. But in the fourth, the Tigers toed the line 18 times and made 11 to win by five, 40-35. Ripley only shot two free throws in the entire second half and made both.
TC’s Josh Kemper collected eight points in the final frame and made all four of his charity tosses. He led the team in scoring with 10. Miller had eight.
For the Raiders who finish the season with a 13-11 record, Gentile tallied a game-high 13 points which included a trio of triples and a 4-of-4 effort at the line. Blake Volz recorded eight points with two bombs, all coming in the second half.
Triton Central is also 13-11 and advances to the Greenfield-Central Regional where the Tigers face 15-9 University in the second semifinal. The first semi has 19-6 Southmont against 20-5 and ninth-ranked Eastern Hancock.
In the other 2A sectional of interest, number 44 hosted by Southwestern Hanover, the defending champion Rebels fell to the 2020 champ Providence Pioneers 56-32.
Prov led 10-7 at the end of the first quarter and 16-14 at the half. It was 39-21 after three.
The Pioneers got a game-high 18 points and six rebounds from Casey Kaelin. Grant Williams posted 14 points and five boards. Quintin Hesse scored 12.
For the Rebels, Zach Cole closed with 11 points, Colton Cloud had eight points and four caroms while Peyton Gwin netted seven points.
Providence outscored Southwestern 16-2 at the line and outrebounded the hosts by 10 (32-22). The Pioneers hit 57 percent from the floor (17/30) while the Rebs were held to 30 percent (13/44).
Southwestern finishes with a record of 17-8. Providence is now 17-6 and plays 22-4 and fifth-ranked Linton Stockton in the second semifinal at the Southridge Regional on Saturday. The early game matches up 14-10 Forest Park against 16-9 Paoli.
Mid Hoosier Conference champion Edinburgh won 1A Sectional 62. The 22-3, ninth-ranked Lancers advance to Saturday’s first regional semi at Loogootee to take on No. 2 North Daviess who is 22-3. No. 16 Borden at 16-7 and unranked but 22-3 Springs Valley follow.
We thank everyone who contributed to the recaps.