CHARLOTTESVILLE – Hall of Fame coach Mark James knows how talented a team he has in Triton Central. That’s why he refuses to let them relax on the basketball court.
On Saturday against a potential sectional opponent in Eastern Hancock, Class 2A, No. 6 Triton Central used a 16-5 run in the third quarter to build a 17-point lead that resulted in a 66-48 victory – its seventh straight. James was still not happy with this team’s defensive effort.
“We played well, at times, and other times we did not play as well,” said James, who has continually expressed his affinity for the 44th team to coach in his career. “We didn’t execute real well on offense and a couple times we left kids open.”
Triton Central (13-2) opened a 19-11 lead after one quarter while shooting 7 of 8 from the field and making all four three-point attempts.
A 7-0 run in the second quarter capped by a second 3 from Chace Calderone helped the Tigers take a 34-21 advantage into halftime.
Consecutive 3s from Eli Manship early in the third quarter cut the deficit to 36-31. That’s when Eli Sego had had enough.
The senior (photo) scored six straight points at the rim and a Brayden Hoover 3 quickly pushed the lead to 45-31.
After a Manship rebound and score, Sego hit two more jumpers and the Tigers took a 50-34 lead into the final quarter.
“He is a very unselfish kid,” said James of the Rose-Hulman bound Sego. “He runs the offense and stays within what we try to do. I have coached for a long time and he is one of the better guards I’ve ever had.
“His IQ is pretty good. He just fouls shooters too much. That’s my biggest complaint. He plays his butt off and is fun to coach. All the kids are. It’s a really good group and they make my job easy.”
With his second 3 of the opening quarter, Sego moved into the top 10 in Shelby County boys basketball history. He passed Shelbyville’s Harry Larrabee (1,390 career points) and is now 137 points from breaking Wyatt Felling’s career scoring record at Triton Central.
Sego had 30 points Saturday and added five rebounds, six assists and two steals to his stat line.
Jackson Faust (photo) finished with nine points. Hoover had eight and Grant Long scored seven points and grabbed four rebounds.
Manship led Eastern Hancock (7-8) with 14 points. Luke Manship had 11 points and eight rebounds. Caden Powers hit two 3s and finished with five points.
The Royals played without senior point guard Landyn Loring (15 ppg, 3 apg), who is recovering from a wrist injury and is expected back in the lineup this week.
With the win, Triton Central improved to 4-0 against potential Sectional 43 opponents. Eastern Hancock is the host site for this year’s sectional.
Triton Central won the junior varsity game, 28-24. Dylan Showalter led the Tigers with 12 points.
Triton Central travels to Covenant Christian (8-6) Thursday then hosts Greenwood Christian (3-12) Saturday afternoon.
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