Triton orchestrates a sweet tune to overwhelm Rock Valley

To the musical accompaniment of the Proviso East High School marching band, the Triton College women's basketball team pounded a drumbeat of points in the third quarter to ensure an 82-63 victory over Rock Valley College Thursday (Jan. 16) at the Jorndt Athletic Complex gymnasium.

Sophomores Jada Branch and Jayla Rankin led the rhythm section in breaking open a close game a halftime with a 12-0 run coming out of the break while pacing a defense that allowed just eight Rock Valley points in the third quarter. Branch and Rankin were on fire with 21 and 17 points, respectively, in the second half.

Following coach Drew Winston's pre-season blueprint, the Trojans (11-8) won their eighth in a row nearing mid-season after a challenging early schedule toughened their hides. They are now the top-ranked team in Region 4 Division I, solidifying their status after pulling away from the top-ranked Region 4 Division II Golden Eagles who entered the contest ranked No. 18 in the nation.

Winston was pleased his players cracked down on defense, prompting the third-quarter offensive splurge, after an emotional first half in which Rock Valley (12-7) countered a fast Triton start. The Trojans began the game leading 9-2, but the Golden Eagles rocked their hosts with a 9-0 run starting the second quarter to tie the game 25-25 before trailing just 36-34 at halftime.

"I felt like our energy and effort let our defense dictate (the flow of offense)," Winston said. "The defense will show the way every game if I have anything to do with it."

Added Branch: "We talked about defense. We had to change our defense. We worked hard on our rebounding."

Branch, who had just four points at halftime, was active at both ends and had 10 points amid a 21-5 Trojans spree through most of the third quarter.

"He told me to look for my shot," Branch said of Winston's halftime counsel. "I passed up a couple of shots (earlier)."

The fourth-leading scorer in NJCAA Division I at 21.1 points per game, Rankin nailed four of her six three-pointers for the game in the second half. Rankin led all scorers with 26 points, one head of Branch, who was 10-for-13 shooting.

"Everybody goes through adversity," Rankin said of the Rock Valley charge before halftime. "(After halftime) it was really an team effort and we were finishing everything."

The defensive clampdown really affected leading Golden Eagles scorer DiNaya Gary. She had 15 points at halftime, but just one point afterward.

Mariah Phelps led the Trojans with nine rebounds and seven assists. Rankin added six assists. Jazzmine Smith chipped in with eight points, including a pair of three-pointers.

The Trojans next play at Kennedy-King College Tuesday (Jan. 20) before returning home for a Thursday date (Jan. 22) with Kankakee Community College.
 
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(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)