Class 2A, No. 11 Triton Central trailed No. 16 Eastern Hancock by four points with eight minutes to go.
Staring at their eighth-straight loss to the Royals, and fourth postseason loss in the last five years, the Tigers went to work.
Triton Central kept attacking and getting to the free-throw line and finally tied the game with 3:01 to go. Maryrose Felling broke a 54-all tie with 1:13 left with a 12-footer in the lane.
After a defensive stop, Quinn King found herself at the free-throw line and hit one to extend the lead to 57-54. Another stop led to King getting two more free throws – and she didn’t miss.
Eastern Hancock never got a look at a game-tying shot and the Tigers advanced to the Sectional 43 championship game tonight with a 60-58 victory.
Kate Collier (photo) scored 13 of her team-high 17 points in the first half for Triton Central (20-4). Felling finished with 15 and King, who hit a half-court three-pointer at the end of the second quarter, scored 13.
The Tigers converted 8 of 12 free throws in the final quarter.
Kenzie Koch led the Royals (15-9) with 25 points. Bella Sotelo and Kiersten Judd each finished with nine. Becca Cooley had eight.
Triton Central opened the season with a 63-59 loss at Heritage Christian. Four days later the Tigers lost to Eastern Hancock, 58-57.
Now, to get the program’s first sectional title since 2021, TC will need to avenge a second loss this season to No. 8 Heritage Christian (17-8) tonight on the Eagles’ home floor.
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