Tri hits buzzer beater to eliminate Morristown from Sectional 59

STRAUGHN – Lukus Frazier hit a corner three-pointer just before the final horn Tuesday to steal a 49-46 sectional win for Tri over Morristown.

Frazier had two made 3s in the final 90 seconds and Tri hit four trifectas in the fourth quarter to get a come-from-behind win and a berth in Friday’s Sectional 59 semifinal round.

“We had a good start to the game and even at the half we had 25 points, I thought we were in pretty good position scoring wise,” said Morristown head coach Cory Kreiger. “Credit to Tri, down nine at the halftime, they seemed to make play after play down the stretch and hit some shots.”

Morristown controlled the pace early, hit four 3s in the opening quarter and built an 18-15 lead at the first break. The Titans missed all 13 of their shot attempts in the second quarter but limited the Yellow Jackets to just seven points and only trailed by nine, 25-16, at halftime.

“We weren’t able to capitalize on them struggling to score,” said Kreiger. “When you win a quarter 7-1, it’s not ideal. This time of the year when you let a team hang around, they have a chance.”

The Yellow Jackets (17-6) twice extended the lead to 11 in the third quarter. The first on an Owen Rinzel 3 and the second on a Brayden Anderson drive to the rim and score.

Trailing 32-21 on its home floor, Tri rattled off an 11-0 run, all by Jonah Cox and Mason Butler, to quickly even out the score.

Kellen Crim sank a last-second 3 to end the third quarter and get Morristown a 39-35 lead.

Crim scored first in the fourth quarter to extend the advantage to 41-35 but Morristown was outscored 14-5 over the final seven minutes.

“Tri is a tough matchup for us with the size and length they have. We knew going in that we were going to struggle to get to the basket and score around it,” said Kreiger. “We had to be able to hit shots and we did that early. We didn’t do it as much in the second half. I wish we could have a couple possessions back.”

Cox and Eli Murphy hit 3s for the Titans (14-9) to build the momentum. Frazier’s first 3 of the quarter put Tri up 46-43.

Crim quickly hit a corner 3 at the opposite end of the floor to tie the game again but Tri held the ball for the final possession.

The officials put one second on the clock following Frazier’s final corner 3 but Crim’s three-quarter court heave was off the mark.

Cox led the Titans with 16 points. Butler finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.

Frazier had 11 points and Bryan Kinder added three points and seven offensive rebounds.

Crim topped Morristown with 20 points. Anderson had 13 points and three assists.

Seniors Owen Rinzel and Dalton McMichael played their final game in a Morristown uniform. The pair were freshmen during Kreiger’s first season when the Yellow Jackets finished 1-22.

“I can’t say enough positive things about Dalton McMichael and Owen Rinzel,” said Kreiger. “They were my first class I had here. For us to have a 1-win season their freshman year to end this season, their senior year, with 17 wins … it’s a huge credit and testament to those two for sticking it out over those four years. They were huge for us throughout this year. I really appreciate and love those guys.”

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