Without its leading scorer in the lineup, Waldron knew it would have a tough time keeping up with Class 2A, No. 13 Triton Central in the championship game of the Shelby County Tournament.
Four Triton Central seniors brought the county tourney trophy back to Fairland while a dynamic freshman captured the Most Valuable Player trophy after the Tigers’ 60-29 victory over the Mohawks Saturday night at Morristown High School.
Seniors Hallie Schweitzer and Lizzie Graham and freshman Maryrose Felling scored all 15 of TC’s first-quarter points to quickly build a 15-6 lead that grew to 29-11 by halftime.
Waldron’s best quarter was the third quarter when it scored 12 points but it still trailed 43-23 going into the final quarter.
Alyssa Benson (10.2 ppg) was injured in Waldron’s county tourney semifinal win Thursday over Southwestern and did not play Saturday in the championship.
Josee Larrison led the Mohawks (4-13) in scoring with eight points. Cendall Sheaffer and Jackie Corlett each scored five.
For Triton Central (13-3), seniors Schweitzer and Graham and junior Brooklyn Bailey combined for 36 points in the county tourney championship game. Schweitzer finished with 10 points, five rebounds and two assists. Graham had 16 points and four rebounds. Bailey also scored 10 points and had a game-high seven rebounds.
“LTB (Lady Tigers Basketball) has a good reputation and we’ve grown up playing at this school so we know it’s expected of us,” said Schweitzer. “We are with our girls every day in practice and we are working hard every day and pushing ourselves. It’s amazing to come back and to do the best we can and win for our team.”
Felling was named MVP after scoring 17 points and handing out four assists. In the semifinal win over Morristown, she had 15 points, four rebounds and two assists.
After starting the season 2-3, Triton Central has won 11 straight.
“I think after our holiday tournament where we were playing well, I feel like we unlocked that potential for our team. We know what we have to do now,” said Schweitzer. “I feel like we are hitting our peak at a good time. Next week, we’re playing New Pal and Kokomo and those will be really good games that will push us.”
Triton Central hosts New Palestine (8-8) Tuesday before traveling to Kokomo (7-10) Thursday.
Waldron is at South Decatur (5-11) Thursday.
Triton Central 60, Waldron 29
TC – Schweitzer 5 0-3 10, Brown 0 0-0 0, Felling 8 0-0 17, Graham 6 2-3 16, Bailey 5 0-1 10, Harris 2 0-2 4, Ross 0 0-0 0, Spall 0 0-0 0, Collins 0 0-0 0, Firebaugh 0 2-2 2, Trimmer 0 0-0 0, Ball 0 1-2 1. Totals: 26 5-24 60.
WA – Sheaffer 2 0-0 5, Hensley 0 1-2 1, Larrison 4 0-0 8, Fischer 2 0-0 4, Corlett 2 0-0 5, Lindsey 2 0-0 4, Campbell 0 0-0 0, Price 0 0-0 0, Ping 0 0-0 0, Hogg 1 0-0 2, Crouch 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 1-2 29.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
TC (13-3) 15 14 14 17 -- 60
WA (4-13) 6 5 12 6 -- 29
Three-point field goals: TC 3 (Felling 1, Graham 2), WA 2 (Sheaffer 1, Corlett 1). Rebounds: TC 23 (Schweitzer 5, Felling 2, Graham 4, Bailey 7, Harris 3, Ross 2), WA 13 (Sheaffer 3, Hensley 3, Larrison 2, Fischer 1, Hogg 2, Lindsey 2). Assists: TC 13 (Schweitzer 2, Felling 4, Graham 1, Bailey 3, Brown 2, Harris 1), WA 10 (Sheaffer 2, Hensley 1, Larrison 1, Fischer 1, Hogg 5). Total fouls: TC 6, WA 10. Turnovers: TC 8, WA 19.
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