Men's Basketball can't solve Mineral Area's puzzle in district championship game

The Triton College men's basketball team found out the hard way why Mineral Area College is 23-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country in NJCAA Division I.

The Cardinals from Park Hills, MO. turned up their defense when it counted the most to deny the 20-4 Trojans an automatic bid to the national tournament with a 73-56 victory in the Midwest District Division I championship game April 10 at the Collins Center.

Despite Triton's strong resume and being ranked nearly all season, the Trojans were not awarded one of the eight at-large selections to qualify in the NJCAA Division I national tournament beginning April 19 in Hutchinson, KS.

Triton tightened an up-and-down first half to close to within 33-30 after consecutive three-point shots from Teonta McKeithen (Ferndale, MI) and Tre Wainwright (Silver Springs, MD) But, realizing the Trojans' talents, Cardinals associate head coach Tim Walsh made some key adjustments to squeeze the life out of their hosts starting the second half.

The Trojans could only tally on Raymond Grant's (Perspectives) three-pointer to open the second half as the Cardinals zoomed to a 43-33 lead with 15:23 to play in regulation. Then the Trojans could only muster two more points in the next five minutes. Triton could not put a dent in this deficit the rest of the way as Mineral Area gradually opened up their lead.

Afterward, Mineral Area head coach Luke Strege credited top aide Walsh for the key strategy tweaks that played to his team's No. 1 national defensive ranking and thwarted Triton's 2-3 defensive zone.

"We turned it up," said Strege. "In the second half, we got some steals. They made it really, really hard for us in the first half. But let's give Triton credit. They're playing well."

Like a chess master who was outplayed, Trojans head Steve Christiansen said he did not counter Walsh's, and in translation Strege's, strategy well enough. Christiansen took the onus upon himself even after his years of success and a national championship at Triton.

"I need to coach them better, we needed to have more answers," he said. "One of worst feelings is to not solve the puzzle. I told the guys, you guys didn't play well, and I didn't give you chance that night. They said, 'No, no, no, you're not out there playing, this is on us.'"

Triton had jumped to a 5-0 lead, but Mineral Area quickly erased the early advantage. The Trojans' offense never really got untracked due to 18 turnovers.

"Eighteen possessions that go without a shot, I thought their defense had a lot to do with that," Christiansen said.

Triton further hurt itself, making just 2 of 10 free throws after going 27-for-30 at the line in their 76-59 Region 4 championship victory over Highland Community College on April 3.

McKeithen came off the bench to lead Triton with 20 points, while Morgan Taylor (Marist) finished with 13. No other Trojan scored more than seven. Malevy Leons led a balanced Cardinals offense with 16.

Despite his squads victory, Strege said Triton was national-tournament worthy.

"They had a terrific season," he said. "They had a down night. This was a six-or seven-point game we were able to extend."

Christiansen always will look for positives.

"We couldn't have played much worse in the first half, but only down by three," he said. "To hold that team in the first half (was positive).

"I'm proud of our team. We'll keep pushing."

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(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)