One year older and one year wiser equaled back-to-back sectional championships for Triton Central.

A veteran Triton Central squad, hampered all season by injuries and illness, produced a poised second half Saturday night to defeat South Ripley on its home floor, 40-35. The Tigers, now 13-11, will face University (15-9) in the second semifinal game at the Class 2A Greenfield-Central Regional on March 12.

After starting the season 4-0, Aiden Lindsey, TC's leading returning scorer, suffered a season-ending knee injury at Greenfield-Central. Then COVID-19 protocols affected a large portion of the varsity roster. The Tigers went 1-6 as they tried to figure out how to play with Lindsey.

"One of the biggest lessons you learn in sports is how to fight through adversity," said Triton Central head coach Kyle Ballard. "When Aiden went out, that was obviously a big hit for us. It really took our kids about a month to adjust to the idea of him not being out there. That happens when you lose an important player like that.

"Our message has always been it's not just one guy, it's our team. Our team has to be better than the other guys. Like Jameson (Palmer) last night in the semifinal, he was our eighth player to score 15 or more points in a game this season. I've never been a part of a team that has had that kind of depth."

On Saturday night with Lindsey on the bench in the recovery phase from ACL surgery and sophomore guard Levi Dewey still recovering from a concussion, the Tigers did not have a single player score in double digits.

Instead, five guys scored between 6-8 points. Caleb Miller, who was named Sectional 44 Most Valuable Player, scored eight points and grabbed two rebounds. Palmer and Josh Kemper also had eight points apiece and combined for seven rebounds. Josiah Blair and Alex Crouse, who missed Friday's semifinal win over North Decatur due to illness, had six points each.

"I had a fever and was throwing up all day. It was rough," said Crouse, who was not in the starting lineup Saturday but contributed a three-pointer that cut South Ripley's lead to 27-25 after three quarters and was a steadying influence for his team in the fourth quarter. "I was glad I was able to get out here tonight."

South Ripley head coach Tyler Thiesing, a former assistant coach at Shelbyville, started three seniors and two freshmen against Triton Central. Once that lineup settled in and started hitting 3s (5 of 10 in first half), the Raiders built a 17-7 lead. 

Triton Central steadied, though, and scored the final seven points of the first half to cut the lead to 17-14 by halftime.

Blake Volz added two more threes in the third quarter and Zach Gentile buried a 17 footer to make all eight of the Raiders' field goals coming from 17 feet or beyond.

"We knew it would be a defensive game coming in and someone was going to have to make a couple more shots," said Ballard. "We were able to get to the free-throw line, first into the bonus and that helps you close out games ... if you hit them. And we hit them and the kids were able to string together stops. I thought our kids executed on that end as well as we have all year."

Crouse's 3 near the end of the third quarter sparked a 10-0 run for Triton Central that carried past the midway point of the fourth quarter. For the first time in the game, South Ripley trailed, 32-27, and now there was pressure to hit shots.

The Raiders missed all five 3-point attempts over the final eight minutes and Triton Central connected on 11-of-18 free-throw attempts to seal the win.

"You watch our bench during a game it is so obvious how much our kids care about winning and care about each other and they play for each other," said Ballard. "Those are the things you try to teach and preach and these are the moments you hope it comes out on the right side."

Gentile led South Ripley with 13 points and five assists. Volz finished with eight points and South Ripley's starting five accounted for all 35 points on 12 of 35 shooting (7 of 19 3s).

Triton Central shot 10-of-25 from the field (5 of 11 3s) and made 15 of 26 free throws.

"This means a lot. Our boys basketball team went a long time without winning a sectional so to go back-to-back years is really awesome," said Crouse.

Greenfield-Central Regional

University defeated Covenant Christian in overtime and Heritage Christian in the championship to earn a regional spot against Triton Central at noon on March 12. The two teams did not meet this season.

In the first semifinal Saturday morning, Class 2A, No. 9 Eastern Hancock (20-5) and Southmont (19-6), who defeated Parke Heritage in the sectional championship game, will battle for a regional championship game appearance. Parke Heritage defeated Triton Central in the 2021 regional and advanced to the state championship game before falling to Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian.

Triton Central's only regional championship came in 1989.

Triton Central 40, South Ripley 35

TC: Blair 2-7 0-0 6, Miller 2-3 3-6 8, Morgan 0-3 2-4 2, Palmer 2-3 3-6 8, Kemper 1-4 6-6 8, Crouse 2-4 1-2 6, Stuckey 0-0 0-0 0, Faust 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 10-25 15-26 40.

SR: Schwarte 2-7 0-0 5, Gentile 4-9 4-4 13, Ward 2-8 0-0 6, Volz 3-9 0-0 8, Henry 1-2 0-0 3, Patrick 0-0 0-1 0, Bradley 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-35 4-5 35.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

TC (13-11)    6  8  11  15  --  40

SR (13-11)    9  8  10    8  --  35

Three-point field goals: TC 5-11 (Blair 2-3, Miller 1-1, Morgan 0-1, Palmer 1-2, Kemper 0-1, Crouse 1-3), SR 7-19 (Schwarte 1-4, Gentile 1-3, Ward 2-6, Volz 2-5, Henry 1-1). Rebounds: TC 16 (Blair 3, Miller 2, Morgan 1, Palmer 3, Kemper 4, Crouse 2, Stuckey 1), SR 15 (Schwarte 7, Gentile 2, Ward 2, Volz 2, Henry 2). Assists: TC 6 (Miller 1, Palmer 1, Kemper 2, Crouse 1, Stuckey 1), SR 8 (Schwarte 2, Gentile 5, Volz 1). Steals: TC 4 (Blair 1, Kemper 2, Crouse 1), SR 3 (Ward 1, Volz 2). Blocks: SR 1 (Henry 1). Total fouls: TC 11, SR 16. Turnovers: TC 11, SR 13.