The Triton Central squad that lost 56-34 at Eastern Hancock on Nov. 12 is not the Triton Central squad ready for a rematch.

Class 2A, No. 11 Triton Central (18-4), winners of 16 of its final 17 games, will host 2A, No. 8 Eastern Hancock (19-3), winners of 10 straight, Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the opening game of Sectional 42.

The two best teams in the five-team field square off with the winner advancing to Friday’s semifinal to take on Irvington Prep (1-10). The other semifinal pits Indianapolis Scecina (11-11) against Indianapolis Riverside (2-15).

The sectional championship game is Saturday at 7 p.m. in Fairland.

Triton Central arrived in Charlottesville in November reeling from the flu, which caused senior Hallie Schweitzer (10.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.1 apg) to miss the game and leading scorers Lizzie Graham (13.2 ppg) and Maryrose Felling (12.5 ppg) to play at less than 100%.

“I think Eastern Hancock will see a totally different team this time around,” said Triton Central head coach Bryan Graham, who is sitting on 299 career wins over 15 seasons.

In that first meeting, Ruby White, Eastern Hancock’s six foot, one-inch junior center, had eight points, five rebounds and four blocked shots in the first quarter to help the Royals get off to a fast start.

Senior guard Grace Stapleton hit four three-pointers in the third quarter to give the Royals a 50-24 lead and Triton Central had little fight left.

White finished with 22 points and eight rebounds while Stapleton had 19 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Eastern Hancock ended Triton Central’s four-year run as sectional champions in 2022 with a 66-65 three-overtime victory. With November’s win, the Royals have now won two straight over Triton Central for the first time under Graham’s direction.

Now, the Tigers are in the rare situation of being the underdog.

“I think (Eastern Hancock) is really good,” said Graham. “Anytime at the (Class) 2A level when you have a couple of good guards and a 6-1 middle, you will be good.”

The Tigers watched the game film from the November loss and it will be used as fuel for the postseason fire.

The veteran coach has been in this situation before. There is always the sobering thoughts of seeing a senior class nearing its final playing days. But the Class of 2023 includes his own daughter, Lizzie (photo), who will continue her playing career at Indiana University South Bend.

“My first couple of years, that was a struggle,” admitted Graham. “The more you do it, when the last game is over you realize you’ve taught them more than just basketball.

“I don’t want it to end. I’ve learned over the years that four years of basketball for the kids is a short blurb in their lives. I hope it’s not the highlight of their life.”

Graham admitted he has held his emotions in check through Lizzie’s final Shelby County Tournament and final regular-season home game.

“It hasn’t hit me yet,” he said. “I don’t think it will hit me, win or lose Tuesday. I don’t think it will hit me until the (postseason) banquet.”

For the Tigers to have success Tuesday, White (7.5 ppg, 6 rpg, 1.5 bpg) cannot dominate the low post again and Stapleton cannot catch fire from beyond the 3-point arc, where she has hit a program-record 74 this season.

Stapleton (photo), averaging 16.3 ppg, surpassed 1,000 career points this season to become the fourth Royal to join the club.

Eastern Hancock captured its first Mid-Eastern Conference title since 1999 with a balanced roster that includes just two seniors – Stapleton and Emma Bolding (7.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg), a softball commit to Saginaw Valley State.

Juniors Sammie Bolding (12 ppg, 2.3 apg) and Makenzie O’Neal (6.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg) give the Royals five players averaging between 6-16 ppg.

Despite defeating Triton Central in triple overtime in the 2022 sectional, the Royals did not capture their first sectional title since 2017. Heritage Christian defeated Eastern Hancock, 45-42, to advance to the regional.

The sectional champion advances to a one-game regional at Southmont High School to face the University Sectional champion. No. 9 University (18-4) is the favorite in the four-team team that includes Sheridan (13-8), Park Tudor (14-6) and Covenant Christian (7-15).

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