Sectional Preview: Triton Regional

Landon Bundy

February 27, 2022 @ 09:09 AM

The high school season is almost over and we are getting locked in for the State Playoffs. It is that time of year when we start looking ahead and previewing each and every Sectional. We will start with Michigan City Regional and have two previews per day until the start of the Sectional tournament on Tuesday, March 2. Today, let’s look at the Triton Regional.   Sectional 49: Kouts The Teams: Covenant Christian (DeMotte), Gary 21st Century, Hammond Science & Tech, Kouts, Marquette Catholic, Morgan Township, Washington Township Our Contenders: Gary 21st Century, Marquette Catholic Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="868220" first="Ashton" last="Williamson"] (2023) - Gary 21st Century Prediction: #2 Gary 21st Century and their outstanding trio of [player_tooltip player_id="868220" first="Ashton" last="Williamson"], [player_tooltip player_id="1160677" first="Quintin" last="Floyd"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1042493" first="D.J." last="Moss"] come into Sectional week having played one of the best schedules of any 1A team in the state. They are 10-4 against 3A and 4A schools right now, and they have big wins over Kouts and Morgan Township. Marquette Catholic with [player_tooltip player_id="1167896" first="Lukas" last="Balling"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1158721" first="Kaden" last="Manna"] join these three teams as the only other team with double-digit wins. These four teams should all meet up in the semifinals with Morgan Township vs Marquette Catholic and Gary 21st Century vs Morgan Township. I don’t see Gary 21st being beat, but if they do, I would put my money on Marquette Catholic.   Sectional 50: Triton The Teams: Argos, Culver, LaCrosse, Oregon-Davis, Trinity Greenlawn, Triton, West Central Our Contenders: Argos, Trinity Greenlawn, Triton Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="1198964" first="J.J." last="Morris"] (2023) - Argos Prediction: Sectional 50 is led by three 14-win teams with #14 Argos, Trinity Greenlawn, and #11 Triton. Argos is led by their scoring duo of Michael Richard and [player_tooltip player_id="1198964" first="J.J." last="Morris"]. Trinity Greenlawn and Henry Lee have only played two games against teams that are in 2A or higher, and they have lost both of these. However, they are holding opponents to just 29 points per game, and they played Triton to a 33-27 game back in February. If they can keep the game down below 30, Triton may be in trouble. Besides this game, Triton and Argos should cruise to the championship game for the fourth consecutive season. Argos won it in 2019 and 2020, but Triton took it in 2021. I will take Triton on their home floor, but it could go either way.   Sectional 51: Fremont The Teams: Bethany Christian, Elkhart Christian, Fremont, Hamilton, Lakewood Park Our Contenders: Bethany Christian, Elkhart Christian, Fremont Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="1168252" first="Beck" last="Willems"] (2022) - Bethany Christian Prediction: All three of the contenders come in with double digit wins, but there has been only one meeting, a 10-points win for Elkhart Christian over Bethany Christian, between these teams this season. [player_tooltip player_id="1168252" first="Beck" last="Willems"] leads the way for Bethany Christian at 19 points per game and Fremont is led by [player_tooltip player_id="1272960" first="Ethan" last="Bontrager"]. Fremont has played the best schedule of any of these teams, so with the home court advantage as well, they are going to be tough to beat. However, that semifinal matchup with Bethany Christian is going to be incredibly interesting.   Sectional 52: Tri-County The Teams: Caston, Frontier, North White, Pioneer, South Newton, Tri-County Our Contenders: Caston, North White Player To Watch: Bentley Buschman (2022) - North White Prediction: Sectional 52 has two clear frontrunners with #6 North White and Caston as they are the only two teams with double-digit wins. North White is led by Bentley Buschman, Hunter Pogue, and Nate Miller who all average 15 points per game, and the 18-3 Vikings are coming in on a 13 game winning streak including wins over all five Sectional opponents. This included a 60-57 win at Caston back in the beginning of February. These two teams should meet again in the semifinals as North White should cruise past Tri-County in the first round after their 25 point win in the regular season. On the other side of the draw, Caston, Pioneer, and South Newton will all fight it out to make the finals, but I don’t see them giving North White or Caston much of a fight. I am going to take North White to bring home just their second Sectional title since 1984.