Triton Central needs overtime to get sectional semifinal win at Christel House

INDIANAPOLIS – Max Crouse sank two free throws with 17 seconds left in overtime and the Tigers survived a furious Christel House final possession to advance to Saturday’s Sectional 43 championship game, 48-47.

Cael Butler scored all six of his points in the fourth quarter and overtime and Jackson Faust came off the bench to notch a blocked shot and hit an overtime free throw for a 46-45 lead.

Triton Central’s leading scorer Eli Sego was saddled to the bench with five fouls midway through the overtime session and the Tigers still outscored the Eagles 5-2.

“I’ve been through a lot of those (games). The ball bounced our way a couple times that gave us a break,” said Triton Central head coach Mark James, now in his 43^rd year as a head coach. “I thought the kids showed a lot of resilience. I thought Butler showed up big in the second half. That was a big win for us because it’s the first time this group has won where Sego wasn’t on the floor at the end of the game. Earlier in the year when that happened to us we lost. We found a way to fight through that tonight.”

Crouse, who led the Tigers Tuesday with 18 points in a win over Heritage Christian, was steady all night in the semifinal on Christel House’s home floor.

“Max has stepped up and played a lot better for us,” said James. “We tell the kids all the time, we are nameless and faceless. We don’t care as long as a Triton Central jersey comes up with the ball and scores, that’s all we want. Max has been stepping up big for us. All the kids have contributed at different times for us.”

Crouse and Sego each had 12 points and Silas Blair added 10 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Christel House led 12-2 after six minutes of action in the opening quarter but Triton Central responded with an 8-0 run to start the second quarter and held an 18-16 advantage at halftime.

The Eagles settled in again in the third quarter and built a 33-27 lead headed to the fourth, which grew to 37-27 barely one minute in.

The Tigers responded again with 6-0, 5-0 and 5-0 runs to get the game tied late. Crouse missed a 3 at the horn and the game went to overtime.

Christel House did not make a field goal in the second quarter and matched that for four minutes of overtime.

The Eagles scored first on a pair of free throws from Terrance Meredith Jr. Butler countered at the other end, pushing the ball over the rim from close range.

With 47 seconds left, Faust was fouled near mid-court but missed the first free throw before sinking the second.

But a foul call at the other end put Meredith back at the free throw line where he swished both for a 47-46 lead.

Crouse had a look at a 3 but faked the shot and tried to attack the lane but Josiah Jackson landed right in front of him after the shot fake and was called for a foul.

Crouse calmly sank both and Christel House failed to get a good look at the basket as time expired.

“I’m glad for the kids. This was a good win for them,” said James.

Meredith led the Eagles (14-10) with 16 points. David Brigham Jr. finished with 13 points and Jackson had 12.

Triton Central (15-9) will seek its third sectional title of this decade Saturday against Indiana Crossroads Conference foe Indianapolis Scecina, who defeated KIPP Indy Legacy, 46-45.

The Crusaders (10-14) defeated Triton Central, 53-50 on Jan. 31.

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