The script of the Region 4 Division I championship game could not of been written any better for the Triton College men's basketball team April 3 at the Collins Center against Highland Community College.
The Trojans played outstanding team defense, took care of the basketball with only six turnovers and were a blistering 27-of-30 from the free throw line to knock off the Cougars 76-59. For Triton, the championship is the ninth regional crown in program history and sixth under
Steve Christiansen, who was awarded Region 4 Division I Coach of the Year after the game.
Now, the Trojans (20-3) are one win away from securing an automatic bid in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas. Triton will host Region 16 champion Mineral Area Community College Saturday, April 10 at 7 p.m for the Midwest District championship. The Cardinals from Park Hills, MO. will enter the matchup as the only unbeaten team left in the NJCAA at 22-0. Mineral Area was ranked No. 2 in the nation in the final Division I rankings entering the postseason. The Trojans are ranked No. 18.
"I'm very proud of this team," Christiansen said. "I thought we executed at a high level and could tell we were ready to go in shoot around. I'm ecstatic that our players got to experience a moment like this. I love Triton. This place means a lot to me and happy we can bring home another championship for the school."
Center
Deangelo Elisee set the tone at the start with his presence inside. The freshman from the Bahamas scored the Trojans first eight points to help open things up for his teammates. Elisse would finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four blocks to earn Region 4 Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
"Deangelo played a great game," said Christiansen. "He has come so far since October when we began preparing for this season. He has bought in and was delighted to see him have the type of performance that he had today."
Triton never trailed as the game was tied briefly at four-apiece early in the contest before the Trojans went on an 8-0 run.
Raymond Grant (Perspectives) capped the spurt with a three-pointer to put Triton up 12-4 with 13:06 to go in the first half and force Highland (16-5) to call a timeout.
The Trojans maintained control and led 32-23 at the intermission. Triton's 2-3 zone gave the Cougars fits all day long as Highland struggled to get many good looks.
However, Highland inched as close as five points at 36-31 with 16:10 remaining in the second half. Then Triton responded with a 14-0 run over the next five minutes to build the advantage to 50-31.
But the other highlight of the day was the Triton free throw shooting. The Trojans who entered the game shooting 61 percent as a team made 11-of-12 free throws during the final five minutes to salt away the victory. Triton was 21-of-23 from the charity stripe in the second half.
"The free throws were probably the difference in the game," said Christiansen. "We just didn't miss and needed every single one of them."
In addition to Elisee, four other Trojans were in double-figures led by
Teonta McKeithen (Ferndale, MI) with 19 points on six-of-seven shooting from the field, including a perfect three-for-three from long range.
Guard
Morgan Taylor ran well on both sides of the floor. The sophomore out of Marist High School had 13 points, including making all seven of his free throws, six rebounds and four assists.
Kejuan Clements (Simeon) and Grant both ended up with 11 points each.
"We did what good teams need to do to win a game against great competition," said Christiansen. "You have to minimize your mistakes and take advantage of theirs. I thought today for the first time this year we put all facets of the game together."
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