CHARLOTTESVILLE – Indianapolis Scecina used a 22-point second quarter to build a double-digit lead on Triton Central that proved to be enough to secure the Class 2A, Sectional 42 championship Saturday night at Eastern Hancock High School, 57-45.
Triton Central controlled the first quarter and built a 16-12 lead but David Mendez, Keaton Thibo and Mason Beriault connected on four consecutive three-pointers in the second quarter to give the Crusaders a 34-23 lead at halftime.
The Tigers bounced back with a strong third quarter that cut the deficit down to two points but never regained the lead. TC went 0-for-11 from the 3-point line in the fourth quarter and Scecina got inspired play from reserves Seth Trimble-Sunderland and Madden Beriault, who combined for 13 points over the final eight minutes that sealed the victory.
“We lost a couple of guys in transition which is something we don’t normally do,” said Triton Central head coach Kyle Ballard, now 48-46 in four seasons in Fairland, of Scecina’s two 10-0 runs in the second quarter. “We were still getting good looks and we had a couple of turnovers back-to-back.”
Scecina (17-6) will face Park Tudor (16-8), a 40-37 winner over 2A No. 5 University Saturday night, in the regional championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Greenfield-Central High School.
Thibo and Mendez each scored 13 points to lead Scecina, who captured its first sectional championship since 2018. Madden Beriault finished with 10 points – all in the fourth quarter.
Silas Blair topped Triton Central (17-7) with 20 points and seven rebounds. No other Tiger scored in double figures on a night when the team shot just 35% from the field (17 of 48) and 21% from the arc (6 of 29).
“We are really excited about where his game has come and where it can go in the next couple of years,” said Ballard of the sophomore.
Isaac Morgan finished with nine points and four assists in his final game at Triton Central. Fellow seniors Luke Faust and Cooper Baugh each scored two points.
Indianapolis Scecina 57, Triton Central 45
SC – Thibo 4-11 2-2 13, Porter 2-4 0-0 4, Mendez 5-9 1-3 13, Mas. Beriault 2-4 0-0 5, Milan 1-4 3-5 5, Trimble-Sunderland 2-5 1-2 5, Mad. Beriault 2-2 6-9 10, Florence 0-0 0-0 0, Young 0-0 0-0 0, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Lowery 0-0 2-2 2. Totals: 18-39 15-23 57.
TC – Faust 1-9 0-0 2, Sego 2-3 0-0 5, Stuckey 2-5 2-2 7, Morgan 4-12 1-3 9, Blair 7-16 2-2 20, Crouse 0-2 0-0 0, Baugh 1-1 0-0 2, Kemper 0-0 0-0 0, Goul 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-48 5-7 45.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
SC (17-6) 12 22 5 18 -- 57
TC (17-7) 16 7 12 10 -- 45
Three-point field goals: SC 6-14 (Thibo 3-5, Mendez 2-6, Mas. Beriault 1-3), TC 6-29 (Faust 0-7, Sego 1-1, Stuckey 1-4, Morgan 0-5, Blair 4-10, Crouse 0-2). Rebounds: SC 23 (Thibo 2, Porter 4, Mendez 4, Mas. Beriault 4, Milan 4, Trimble-Sunderland 2, Mad. Beriault 3), TC 21 (Faust 4, Sego 4, Stuckey 3, Morgan 3, Blair 7). Assists: SC 8 (Thibo 2, Porter 2, Mendez 1, Mas. Beriault 1, Milan 2), TC 8 (Faust 1, Sego 1, Stuckey 2, Morgan 4). Steals: SC 1 (Mendez 1), TC 2 (Sego 1, Morgan 1). Blocks: TC 1 (Blair 1). Total fouls: SC 12, TC 18. Fouled out: Blair (TC). Turnovers: SC 8, TC 6.
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