Trojans balance sets up date Monday with Highland for Region 4 Title

Keisy Alvarez's best game as a collegian Saturday helped book her passage for the Triton College women's basketball team to host the Region 4 championship game for the first time in school history Monday night at the Collins Center.

The first international student in program history as a citizen of Spain, Alvarez's 19 points led a balanced Trojans offense that fended off a competitive Sauk Valley Community College team in a 75-63 home semifinal victory.

Top seeded Triton will face No. 2 seeded Highland Community College for the title at 5:30 p.m. Monday, in the first game of a championship doubleheader. The Cougars (20-6) defeated Malcolm X College 74-54 Saturday in Freeport in their semifinal game. The Trojans won the lone regular season meeting among the teams in a 60-56 triumph at Highland on Jan. 15.

The Cougars will duel a 23-4 Trojans team whose depth fended off any Skyhawks pretentions of its own upset. Triton had handily won its two regular-season games against Sauk Valley. But the postseason would be another matter.

Alvarez's 11 first-quarter points helped Triton zoom to an early 15-point lead. Triton led 40-30 at halftime. But Sauk Valley (8-13) cut the lead to six points at several second-half junctures helped by guard Caylyn Kimmel's long-range shooting. Kimmel's fourth three-pointer shaved Triton's edge to 66-61 with just more than three minutes to go.

But the Trojans defense, which produced key steals and blocks throughout the game were able to hold the SkyHawks comeback hopes. An Alvarez layup for her final point total boosted the lead to 71-63 with just under a minute remaining put the contest away.

"They always give me the best passes," Alvarez said of her teammates. "I'm happy to be part of this team.  Things go the best when we communicate. We trust in each other."

"Keisy waited till the biggest game to have her biggest game," said Triton head coach Marques Hatch. "She had some big buckets, big rebounds. She provided the energy for us today."

With 9-for-15 shooting, Alvarez bested her previous career high by one point. She was ably assisted by Temya Russell's huge all-around game with 10 points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Monraia Wilson was 7-for-13 shooting with 16 points. Kendra Hatley had nine points, four assists and four blocks.

Kimmel led Sauk Valley with 16 points, attempting seven three-pointers. Hailey Walters (13 points) and Jenna Johnson (11 points) were active in keeping the Skyhawks in the game in the second half.

"We did a good job getting the lead up," Hatch said. "I give a lot of credit to Sauk Valley for how they competed."

Overall, Hatch is happy with his team's makeup as it attempts to win the regional crown for the second consecutive season. The Trojans were boosted in the semifinal by an enthusiastic home crowd, the largest of the season.

"I'm just glad we're playing our best ball of the season," said Hatch. "We definitely love the support we got today. We have to continue to play our game."
 
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(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)