Indiana High School Athletic Association, Inc.

9150 North Meridian Street, Box 40650, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240-0650

Phone: 317-846-6601    Fax: 317-575-4244    Website: www.ihsaa.org

Blake Ress, Commissioner

_________________________________________________________________________

March 22, 2008

 

TRITON CLAIMS FIRST-EVER CLASS A STATE TITLE

Class A third-ranked Triton’s defense stifled Indianapolis Lutheran as the Trojans captured their first-ever IHSAA state title, 50-42, capping a 25-2 season at Conseco Fieldhouse. Third-year Head Coach Jason Groves’ squad limited Lutheran to just 38 percent shooting from the field and forced 14 turnovers in the victory.

 

Both teams were playing in their first-ever state championship game.  

 

After Lutheran scored the first five points of the contest, Triton reeled off a 10-0 run spanning nearly seven minutes and held the lead the rest of the day. Lutheran’s Eric Borst three from the right wing cut the lead to 14-12 with 4:55 left in the second quarter, but Triton responded with the final five points of the half to take a 19-12 advantage to the break.

 

Triton’s lead remained seven at the close of the third quarter before a 10-0 spurt early in the fourth quarter put the game away. Troy McIntyre and Jake Everett combined to score all 10 points during the run. The 6-foot-6 Everett had 16 points, including hitting 5-of-6 at the foul line and McIntyre added 14 on 5-of-9 shooting. Triton’s Colton Keel added seven points and seven assists in the victory.

 

Borst led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the floor and Zach Cutshaw chipped in nine points and five boards.

 

Triton’s slashing offensive attack led to a 21-6 advantage in free throw attempts as they outscored Lutheran 16-3 at the charity stripe. Lutheran, which came in shooting better than 42 percent for the season from three-point range, made just 5-of-20 tries on Saturday.   

 

Lutheran, ranked No. 10 in Class A, finished it’s season at 22-5 under Head Coach Tom Finchum. The defeat snapped Lutheran’s 10-game winning streak. ­   

 

JACOB EVERETT OF TRITON NAMED TRESTER AWARD WINNER

Following the game, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee named Jacob Everett of Triton High School as the winner of the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award.

 

The award is presented annually to a senior participant in each classification who was nominated by his principal and coach and has demonstrated excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.

 

Everett ranks 12th in his senior class of 71 at Triton.  He carries a 10.04 GPA on a 10-point scale and plans to pursue a degree in secondary education at Bethel College.

 

He is President of the local Key Club, and a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council.  Everett also belongs to the Spanish, Science, and Art Clubs at Triton.

 

Athletically, he has been a three sport athlete at Triton, participating in varsity football for two years, junior varsity golf for two years, and varsity basketball for four years.

 

“Through a strong work ethic, a never-give-up attitude, and sheer determination, Jacob has developed into a positive role model for generations to come,” says Triton principal Michael Chobanov.  “Regardless of the situation, Jacob has developed the life skills to meet challenges head on, the intellectual ability to develop and implement a plan of attack, and the mental toughness to see the challenge through to a successful completion.”

 

He is the son of Bryan and Jill Everett of Tippecanoe.

 

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, the IHSAA’s corporate partner, will present a $1,000 scholarship to Triton High School in the name of Jacob Everett.

 

The award is named in honor of Arthur L. Trester, the IHSAA’s first commissioner who served the Association from 1929-44.

 

VSN MEANS ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY

Visit our friends at Visual Sports Network, the IHSAA’s official photographer for all state championship events and one of the leading action photographers in the Midwest. VSN, which was on site Saturday, has captured hundreds of images from this year’s State Finals and will have them ready for viewing and purchase beginning Monday.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE

For t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.

 

STATE FINALS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

Couldn’t be there for the state finals? You can still purchase a copy of the official souvenir program while supplies last! Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in person at the IHSAA Office (9150 N. Meridian Street in Indianapolis) or $5.00 by mail (postage included). To order, have your Visa or MasterCard ready and call us at 317-846-6601 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. EST).

 

 

CLASS A POST-GAME QUOTES

 

Jason Groves Triton Head Coach

 

“It’s great for these kids.  They work hard all year long in the off season and they really deserve it.  They’re the ones who put in the effort in the gym each day.”

 

(on the defense)

“Our main focus all year is to get after it defensively.  We did a pretty good job on their shooters in the second half.”

 

“After getting beat last year on a last second shot by Oregon Davis, the kids really dedicated themselves this year.  They deserve all the success they’re having.”

 

(on Lutheran’s run)

“Some of these kids have been on varsity four years and there is not much they haven’t seen.  They adjust really well and are unselfish.”

 

(on Senior Jake Everett, mental attitude award winner)

“He’s an unbelievable kid.  Not only is he a great ball player, he’s just a great kid.  I don’t have any sons but he’s the type son you’d want to have.”

 

(on the fans)

“They have been fantastic.  Early in the year we had a road game an hour away and we had more fans than the home team.  They have been supporting us all year.  They are a great community and we appreciate all the support they have given us.”

 

(on Freshman Griffyn Carpenter’s shot)

“He’s come a long way for us.  He played JV most of the year.  He’s performed so well in practice and games we felt we just had to get him in there.”

 

 

Tom Finchum Lutheran Head Coach

 

“On defense Triton is very big and long.  They did a nice job defensively on the inside, but they also challenged our outside shooters.  Every time we had a shot they had somebody in our face.”

 

“Offensively it was tough for us the whole game.  I knew they were a very good defensive team.  We scored about what they give up in a game.  We started out tight and it was tough shooting in here especially when you’re not used to it.  Shooting has been one of our strengths this season.”

 

“Defensively we had to start gambling at the end.  Unfortunately that’s when they scored a lot of their points.  We couldn’t let them take two to three minutes off the clock on offense.  We were here to win.  We weren’t going to just sit in our zone.”

 

“We are just very, very happy to get here and the whole Lutheran community got behind us.  They know there are almost 400 teams in the tournament and only eight get to get here.”

 

“We didn’t execute the way we wanted to but I can’t fault our effort.  This is the first time we’ve ever won a sectional.  Then to win a regional and semi-state to get here was fantastic.”