The Triton College men's basketball team found themselves in unchartered waters entering the postseason. For the first time since 1999, the Trojans played a first round playoff game on the road when they traveled to Sauk Valley Community College March 3 in a Region 4 Division I quarterfinal game.
Triton entered as the No. 5 seed after losing the homecourt advantage on the third tiebreaker with the No. 4 seeded SkyHawks. But in a season filled with ups and downs, despite making the 100-mile trip and staring down an 18-point second half deficit, the Trojans galvanized as a unit to pull off an improbable 91-88 overtime victory.
Sauk Valley (17-14) enjoyed a 41-30 lead at halftime and Triton (17-12) appeared to be in serious trouble as the SkyHawks opened the first four minutes of the second half on a 13-6 run to take a 54-36 advantage. But the Trojans clawed back and slowly chipped away.
Down 77-72 in the closing minute,
Matt Sullivan hit a three-pointer to with 20 seconds left in regulation to pull the Trojans within 77-75. Triton then put the pressure on defensively and forced a Sauk Valley turnover to get the ball back. On the ensuing possession,
Ethan Johnson was fouled on a three-point attempt and made two-of-three from the line to tie the game with 12 ticks to force overtime.
In the extra session, the Trojans carried over the momentum as a Johnson step-back three from the top of the key gave Triton the lead for good at 86-84 with 1:24 remaining in overtime.
Terez Holmes was a force inside for the Trojans with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Holmes was a perfect 11-for-11 from two-point range. Johnson's clutch outside shooting late contributed to his 20-point output.
Papa Kounta finished with 18 points and seven rebounds for Triton.
The Trojans reward for their dramatics is to come back home to the friendly confines of the Jorndt Athletic Complex gymnasium to host top seeded Olive-Harvey College in a Region 4 semifinal game Thursday (March 5) at 5 p.m. Triton has an 11-3 home record. However, the Panthers (25-6) were one of those losses, 91-84 on February 10. The Trojans look to get their payback on the biggest stage in March.
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