An 8-0 run over a two-minute span provided all the momentum Waldron needed to claim its first Shelby County Girls Basketball Tournament title in 12 years.
Megan Bogemann hit a rushed three-pointer just ahead of the halftime buzzer Saturday night and opened the third quarter with another 3 which was followed by a Bella Larrison layin to give Class A, No. 2 Waldron its first double-digit lead of the game over 2A No. 7 Triton Central.
The Tigers never recovered as its offense sputtered to its worst performance of the season in a 42-27 loss, bringing an end to their seven-year reign as county tourney champions.
Nichole Garner scored a game-high 16 points and had five rebounds and two assists to be named the Shelby County Tournament Most Valuable Player. The senior was solid from start to finish and led Waldron to a pair of victories over Triton Central this season.
“It feels amazing. Triton Central is a big competitor for us and we beat them this season so there was a lot of pressure on us going into this game,” said Garner, who 7-of-8 fourth-quarter free throws in Waldron’s 46-39 Dec. 3 win in Fairland.
While Garner was the MVP, Bogemann produced the game’s biggest play just before halftime.
Waldron was leading 16-14 and running the clock down for the final shot of the first half. Bella Larrison pulled up for a 3 from the wing and missed. Waldron got the rebound and hoisted another shot which missed. In the scramble for the loose ball, Hadlie Ross corralled it and found Bogemann in front of the TC bench.
The senior knocked down her 48th 3-pointer of the season just as time expired.
“Honestly, I didn’t think it was going in. I was praying the whole time I shot it,” said Bogemann. “It went in and the crowd went crazy and I got chills all over my body.”
Waldron had possession to start the second half and Bogemann opened it with her third trifecta of the game and the Mohawks never looked back.
Triton Central shot just 34% from the field in its semifinal win over Morristown Thursday. Head coach Bryan Graham lamented Thursday after the win that the performance needed to be better Saturday night. He was right.
The Tigers made just two field goals in the first half while shooting 13%. Only a 9-of-11 performance from the free throw line kept them in the game.
Hallie Schweitzer and Maddy Brown each hit a 3 in the third quarter to keep Triton Central within seven points going into the fourth quarter.
Brown had the only field goal over the final eight minutes as Triton Central shot just 20% in the loss and had just one field goal in three of the four quarters.
Olivia Faust led Triton Central with seven points and three rebounds. Schweitzer and Brown each had five points.
Bogemann finished with 11 points and Hadlie Ross and Bella Larrison each had six. Josee Larrison pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
Waldron extended the lead to 28-17 midway through the third quarter before Triton Central’s last rally – a Riley Ross score from the low post and Brown’s long 3 from the top of the key cut the lead to six.
Ross hit a pair of free throws just before the third quarter buzzer to set the lead at 32-25.
The Mohawks scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter and a victorious buzz started building within Waldron’s gymnasium.
Triton Central failed to score in the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter.
Waldron collected its third Shelby County Tournament title to go with wins in 1992 and 2010.
Waldron head coach Anthony Thomas improved to 74-36 in his fifth and final season with the Mohawks. He has already announced his retirement following the conclusion of the season.
“I got overcome with emotion when there was about a minute to go and I thought we were in good shape,” said Thomas. “It’s a testament to the kids. It was a gritty performance. We weren’t in sync offensively, which a lot of that was (Triton Central). They put some pressure on you, but our defense played well enough and stayed the course.”
The Mohawks trailed 13-9 midway through the second quarter but never wavered – the veteran presence of seven seniors and one junior in the rotation has been evident all season.
“They don’t really have any fear,” said Thomas. “One of the things we talked about going into this game is they had us down six or eight (points) up there a couple times (earlier this season) and just kept doing what we do. We have faith in what we do. If we stay consistent like that, there is no reason to panic. If you are in a 2- or 3-possession game, I will take us against the world every time.
“No disrespect to Triton Central, but that was a huge moment for our kids, for our fans and for our community. You could push me over with a feather, I could not be more happy for these kids.”
Triton Central is back in action Tuesday at New Palestine (9-7).
Waldron (16-1) is off until Thursday when its hosts South Decatur (3-12) in a Mid-Hoosier Conference game.
Waldron 42, Triton Central 27
TC: Schweitzer 1-11 2-4 5, Brown 2-7 0-1 5, Graham 0-4 1-2 1, Harris 1-2 1-1 3, Faust 2-8 2-2 7, Bailey 0-2 4-6 4, Ross 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 7-35 10-16 27.
WA: Had. Ross 2-3 2-3 6, Shaw 1-7 1-2 3, Bogemann 3-9 2-2 11, Garner 5-12 4-5 16, B. Larrison 2-6 2-2 6, J. Larrison 0-5 0-0 0, Fewell 0-0 0-0 0, Sheaffer 0-0 0-0 0, Benson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 13-42 11-14 42.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
TC (15-3) 5 9 11 2 -- 27
WA (16-1) 5 14 13 10 -- 42
Three-point field goals: TC 3-11 (Schweitzer 1-3, Brown 1-3, Graham 0-1, Harris 0-1, Faust 1-3), WA 5-12 (Shaw 0-1, Bogemann 3-6, Garner 2-3, B. Larrison 0-2). Rebounds: TC 24 (Schweitzer 6, Brown 3, Graham 3, Harris 4, Faust 3, Bailey 5), WA 32 (Had. Ross 8, Shaw 1, Bogemann 2, Garner 5, B. Larrison 5, J. Larrison 11). Assists: TC 4 (Schweitzer 1, Brown 3), WA 6 (Had. Ross 1, Shaw 2, Bogemann 1, Garner 2). Steals: TC 3 (Schweitzer 1, Graham 1, Faust 1), WA 4 (Bogemann 2, Garner 1, B. Larrison 1). Blocks: TC 2 (Faust 2). Total fouls: TC 18, WA 15. Fouled out: Brown, Bailey (TC). Turnovers: TC 10, WA 7.
