Class 2A, No. 6 Triton Central survives sectional showdown with Eastern Hancock

CHARLOTTESVILLE — A second meeting with Eastern Hancock was different than the first.

Eli Sego missed eight of his first 11 shots Wednesday, but made his final two, including a drive and score with 12 seconds left to get Class 2A, No. 6 Triton Central a 47-45 win.

"The hardest thing to do is win the first game,” said Triton Central head coach Mark James. “That’s when the upsets occur. We fought through that so we will see what happens.”

The Tigers, now 20-3, escaped a motivated Royals squad but still have work to do to repeat as Sectional 43 champions. They will face Heritage Christian (12-11) for the second time this season Friday in the second semifinal game.

And a win there likely sets up another meeting with No. 10 Indianapolis Scecina (17-6). The Crusaders face KIPP Indy Legacy (11-14) Friday in the first semifinal in Charlottesville.

Triton Central defeated Eastern Hancock, 66-48, on Jan. 31. Sego torched the Royals for 30 points. Senior guard Landyn Loring did not play that night while recovering from a wrist injury. His return to the lineup helped the Royals win six of their final seven games.

Barely 15 seconds into Wednesday’s sectional quarterfinal contest, Loring hit a three-pointer — a frequent occurrence for the Royals (13-10) in the first half. Loring and fellow senior guard Caden Powers combined for six 3s and sophomore Eli Manship added another to get the Royals a 27-16 halftime advantage.

"They shot the ball really, really well. They were shooting 3s like crazy,” said James. “At halftime, we told them just get it to five or six at the end of the third quarter and that’s what we did.”

Sego, Triton Central’s career scoring leader, struggled to hit shots early. He was 1 of 6 in the opening half, including missing all four 3-point attempts, and had just four points.

Sego’s first made 3 came early in the third quarter but it came between Zach Stephens 3s which extended the lead to 33-19. Triton Central needed a spark, and it came from Grant Long (photo).

The senior scored six straight points, four on offensive rebounds, to quickly cut the deficit to 33-25. One minute later, Jackson Faust drained a corner 3 which was followed by a Sego steal and layin to cut the lead to six.

Long scored at the rim with 30 seconds to go and the Tigers did what their coach asked, got within four at 36-32 by the end of the third quarter.

"That’s what seniors are supposed to do in the tournament, said James of Long’s third quarter performance. “They’re not supposed to want the tournament to end. I’ve got three great seniors (Sego, Long and Conner McClure). They are really tight kids. They care about what we do.”

A 5-0 run early in the fourth quarter cut the lead to 38-37 but the Tigers struggled to get the lead. Loring’s final points came off a drive into the lane and score with 2:37 left. The Royals still led 45-42 but did not score again.

Sego converted in the lane 20 seconds later.

Brayden Hoover hit one of two free throws with 1:12 on the clock to get the game tied.

And an Eastern Hancock turnover, one of six in the final quarter, gave Triton Central the opportunity to take the lead. Everyone in the gymnasium knew Sego was going to factor into the final possession and the Rose-Hulman commit did not disappoint.

Sego quickly cleared his defender and had no resistance getting to the rim and scoring.

The Royals got the ball to half court and called timeout with seven seconds to go. Stevens launched an off balance 3 that missed and Long pushed the rebound out past the arc to end the game.

"The tournament is always like that. Each game is a new beginning,” said James. “I thought the kids played really hard and very well together. We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well and it’s good to win when you don’t shoot the ball particularly well.”

Triton Central shot 33% in the first half but made 12 of 25 shots (48%) in the second half.

Sego finished with a team-high 13 points to push his career scoring total to 1,600 points.

Long finished with 12 points and five rebounds.

Henry Kemper (photo) had eight points, including five in the fourth quarter, and Brody Hartman scored six, all in the first half.

Loring was the only Eastern Hancock player to reach double digits with 16 points. He also had five assists. Powers and Stephens each had nine.

The Royals finished 10 of 19 from beyond the arc.

In the opener Wednesday, Heritage Christian defeated Christel House, 64-55.

The Eagles lost at Triton Central, 58-41, on Jan. 16. Logan Peters, a 6-8 forward, and Caleb Flint, a 5-10 guard, combined for 20 points in the loss.

Sego led the Tigers with 34 points and six rebounds.