Pressure defense, strong shooting carries Triton Central to third-straight county tourney title

FAIRLAND – Triton Central sank 11 three-pointers Monday to secure the program’s third-straight Shelby County Girls Basketball Tournament championship.

The Tigers, playing on their home court, built an 18-13 lead after one quarter over Waldron then hit 8 of 11 3s in the middle two quarters to take a 43-19 lead at halftime and 61-21lead after three quarters.

The fourth quarter served as a victory lap for Triton Central on the way to a 68-30 victory.

Maryrose Felling scored a game-high 23 points and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She also had six rebounds and three assists and moved into the No. 6 slot on Triton Central’s career scoring list with 1,104 points.

“I love getting my teammates involved … it’s my favorite thing,” said Felling, who had four points, three assists and one rebound in the opening quarter against the Mohawks.

While it took a quarter to get the shooting range down, Triton Central’s attacking defense produced eight first-quarter turnovers and that improved in the second quarter.

Waldron took just seven shots in the second eight minutes and committed 11 turnovers. Meanwhile, Felling, Quinn King and Sawyor Murdick each hit 3s as the Tigers shot 56% in the quarter and opened up a big advantage.

Photo provided: The 2025 Shelby County Tournament Most Valuable Players are Maryrose Felling (left) and Eli Sego.

Felling, who missed her first six 3-point shots, scored on a baseline drive early in the second quarter and that seemed to spark her.

“It’s the greatest thing ever,” said Felling of seeing the ball go through the hoop. “It’s stressful when you are missing in front of everyone. When you are missing you get frustrated by it. I know I have to keep my composure, keep going, keep driving and keep passing to keep everyone involved when I’m not hitting.”

Felling splashed two more 3s in the third quarter. Murdick added another from long range and Cheyenne Allen dialed up from long distance as Triton Central put the running clock into play.

King scored all 13 of her points in the first half and added three rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Sophia Burbrink and Murdick each finished with nine points.

Alivia Fischer led Waldron with 17 points and four rebounds. Emerson Lindsey, who had 18 points Thursday in the semifinal win over Southwestern, had three points, four rebounds and six assists Monday.

The Mohawks (6-11, 2-2 Mid-Hoosier Conference) return to the court Thursday at South Decatur (8-9, 2-1 MHC).

In two victories at the Shelby County Tournament, Triton Central shot 44% from the field and made 20 3s while its defense produced 52 turnovers.

“We had to do something. As you can tell, our starting power forward is 5-foot-5,” said Triton Central head coach Bryan Graham, who has now won 14 county tourney titles in 17 attempts, of the change to play faster. “We average in our starting lineup at about 5-3 or 5-4. We don’t want to get in a boxing match with someone in the half court. We have to get up and down the court and get some easy baskets.”

Triton Central (11-6), winner of four straight and 11 of 13, hosts New Palestine (7-7) tonight in Fairland.

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