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INDIANAPOLIS - Gage Riffle and Landon Patrick sensed the experiment could veer sideways, but, being teenagers, they at least had to try.

The day after Triton’s 53-51 regional victory over Marquette Catholic, the Trojans’ 12 varsity players went to get their hair dyed blond.

Results, according to Patrick, were mixed.

“It was mine and Julian Swanson’s (idea),” said Patrick, a 5-11 senior guard. “We were just talking one day in English class and said that it would be pretty cool to get it done. There are a couple of guys who look pretty good, and a couple of guys . . . not so great.

“Some of them look pretty rough.”

Triton (25-3), a school located in the northern Indiana town of Bourbon (population, roughly 1,700), will help start a busy day of hoops inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday morning when it faces Barr-Reeve (27-1) in the Class 1A championship game.

The Trojans, winners of 15 straight games, hope to stand out in ways other than their newfound hair color.

“We just believe in each other. We trust each other,” Patrick said. “Every single guy who plays can get the job done, so I think it’s just the chemistry we’ve built throughout the years. Just getting things done and knowing what to do.”

The aforementioned Swanson, a 5-9 senior guard, leads the team in scoring (12.1), while 5-11 sophomore guard Brady Wood (11.6), senior forward Jayden Overmyer (10.1) and the 6-foot Riffle (9.4) give Triton one of the more-balanced teams among the eight state finalists. Patrick does his part with averages of 5.8 points and 5.4 assists; sophomore guard Jamison Swanson is good for 4.4 points per game.

All of it under the watchful eyes of Groves, who in 21 seasons has a 371-153 record that includes nine winters of 20 or more victories.

“Playing for (Groves) is really fun. It’s been a joy to have him as my coach,” said Riffle. “He demands effort, good attitude, respect each other and respect the coaches. He makes it fun. He knows what he’s talking about. He’ll never ask of you what you can’t give. The only thing he asks of you is your best.”

The Class 1A State Championship featuring Barr-Reeve (27-1) and Triton (25-3) will stream via PPV on IHSAAtv.org this Saturday at 10:30 am ET / 9:30 CT!

The Triton-Barr-Reeve matchup represents opposite sides of the state, though historical parallels exist.

The Trojans captured the title in 2008; the Vikings have twice worn the 1A crown (2015 and 2021).

Barr-Reeve is under the direction of first-year coach Heath Howington, who succeeded Josh Thompson, who carved out a record of 151-36 in his seven seasons with the program. Howington’s last stop was his five seasons at Evansville Memorial where he went 71-44.

The Vikings fashion three double-digit scorers of their own in 6-foot junior guard Kierson Lengacher (14.3), 5-11 sophomore guard Jaylon Graber (10.8) and 6-3 sophomore forward Braxton Neidigh (10.1). Another 10th-grader, 6-1 forward Josh Miller, scores at an 8.4 clip, while 5-9 junior guard Carson Yoder (5.5 ppg) leads in assists (4.2) and is third in rebounds (3.9).

Barr-Reeve boasts only three seniors with guard Korben Boyd being the only one who has played in every game this season.

“Growing up, you see all the teams that make it here, and nobody expected us to do it this year,” said Boyd. “People always said the next two or three years with a good sophomore class, but I’m just really excited. These guys have bought in to what coach has said, and we’re excited for a chance to play in the state championship.”

Barr-Reeve takes the court holding slight edges in field goal percentage (.485 to .478), 3-point shooting (.367 to .338) and free throw accuracy (.668 to .615). Triton, meanwhile, has posted higher numbers in points and rebounds per game.

Both squads are incredibly stubborn defensively. Triton allowed the fourth-lowest points-per-game average in the state (39.21) among all teams, while the Vikings ranked ninth (41.07). The Trojans’ average margin of victory (17.39 points) is 19th-highest in Indiana.

“We’ve been together since we were little kids,” said Lengacher. “We might spend more time together outside of school than we do inside school. There are never any arguments with anyone because everyone is willing to take advice and willing to get better.

“With coach Howington coming in, we don’t really try to slow the game down. We just take pride in our defense, try to look for the best shot, and no one really cares who scores.”

The Trojans and Vikings are mirror images in a lot of ways. Taking away the hair colors, that is.