Triton wins thriller over Plymouth
By Rusty Nixon
PLYMOUTH — It was a gritty and physical affair, something that the rivalry between Triton and Plymouth has become known for over the years, and this time, it was the Trojans who were able to get one more basket in the final seconds to walk away with a 46-43 win at Plymouth.
“I was proud of our guys. It doesn’t happen a lot when you have an opportunity to beat Plymouth at their place,” said Triton head coach Jason Groves. “Down the stretch, I think it showed we are a veteran team. We’ve been in these positions before and found a way to get on top.”
“Triton is a very good team, who is well coached,” said Plymouth head coach Greg Miller “Some untimely turnovers and missed shots were the difference in the game. A lot of credit goes to Triton for their execution down the stretch.”
“This game gives us an opportunity to learn from adversity and get
better as we prepare for conference play coming up,” he said.
In a back-and-forth game from the beginning, each team traded blows and the first half was a defensive struggle with just nine points in the first quarter that ended 5-4 in favor of Triton.
It was more of the same in the second quarter, both teams shutting off the other getting any real looks a the basket.
Triton made a big run out of the locker room but the Pilgrims were able to weather the storm and take a 33-32 lead into the final eight minutes.
The final two minutes were a wild affair as the chess match continued between Plymouth coach Greg Miller and Groves. In the end, the Trojans would have the final move and make it count.
“I think our experience showed at the end, I don’t think we would have been able to do this a year ago, said Groves. “We drew up plays at the end we haven’t even worked on in practice but they remembered them from a year ago and went out and executed.”
“When you have leaders like Dante (Workman), Tanner (Witt-Hoyo) and Julian (Swanson), Gage (Riffle), and Caden Large, they all played a lot of basketball last year. They can execute those things.”
Workman had a great finish running the floor at the end, dishing out three assists, and grabbing two big rebounds.
“He was good on both ends of the floor,” said Groves He did some things offensively that we needed. He works hard, and he’s very coachable. When you have a senior like that, things go well for you.”
Fellow senior Witt-Hoyo was also clutch scoring 9 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter.
“We ask a lot of him,” said Groves. “He’s undersized. He somehow found a way to finagle himself to the basket and get those shots.”
On the Plymouth side, Kadyn Ellery posted his second double/double in a row with 16 points and 15 rebounds and added two assists and four blocked shots as a force in the paint.
Plymouth is 2-1 on the year and will be at LaPorte on Friday. Triton is 2-0 and will travel to NorthWood on Friday.
Unofficial stats
TRITON 46, PLYMOUTH 43
at Plymouth
Plymouth 5 17 33 46
Triton 4 18 32 43
Plymouth (43) — Preston Wolfe 4 2-2 12, Delp 0 0-0 0, Nguyen 1 0-0 3, Kadyn Ellery 5 6-8 16, VanDuyne 3 4-4 8, Feldman 2 0-0 4, Kylen Ellery 0 0-0 0, Parker Wolfe 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 14 43.
Triton (46) — Patrick 0 2-2 2, Workman 32 3-4 10, Swanson 1 0-0 3, Overmyer 1 0-0 3, Riffle 5 0-0 11, Wood 1 0-0 3, Witt-Hoyo 7 2-3 12. Totals 14 7-9 46.
3 Pt FG — Plymouth 3 (Preston Wolfe 2), Triton 7 (Riffle 3).
Rebounds — Plymouth 21 (Kadyn Ellery 15), Triton 15 (Workman 5).
Assists — Plymouth 4 (Ellery 2), Triton 8 (Workman 4).
Steals — Plymouth 6 (Preston Wolfe 3), Triton 7 (Swanson 2).
Turnovers — Plymouth 10, Triton 11.
