Triton Central pulls away in fourth quarter to secure win at Waldron

WALDRON -- Jeb Stewart is still waiting to celebrate his first high school win as the varsity basketball coach at Waldron.

The Mohawks had a lead in the fourth quarter at Knightstown on Nov. 30 before falling, 57-52.

Waldron never led in its home opener Thursday against Triton Central but were never out of reach until the mid-point of the fourth quarter.

Eli Sego scored a game-high 19 points and Silas Blair finished with 12 points and seven rebounds to lead the Tigers to a 60-47 win.

“We need to make the easy pass more. We made some unforced turnovers. And we need to finish at the rim,” said Stewart in his first season. “We missed a lot of layups tonight. Eight or nine layups and three or four turnovers at crucial times where it was unforced – we just forced a pass. It’s the little things that just aren’t there yet.”

Waldron never held the lead in the contest but its three-point shooting kept it close. The Mohawks were 4-of-6 from the arc in the first half and shot 61% overall but still trailed 32-26.

Blair, the reigning Shelby County Tournament Most Valuable Player, scored eight points in the first half and seven different Tigers scored in the second quarter.

Lucas Shaw converted four free throws to start the second-half scoring and Waldron cut the lead to 32-30. It would get no closer.

Sego drained a 3 from the top of the key to extend the lead to five points and Sam Collier scored at the rim. Blair later scored on an offensive rebound then scored in the low post on the next possession to push the lead to 43-34.

The Tigers led by eight points after three quarters and the Mohawks’ strong shooting slowed considerably. Waldron made just 2 of 15 shots over the final eight minutes and the Triton Central lead remained in double digits for the final 5:30.

“We are going to keep fighting,” said Stewart. “I don’t think there is a person in this gym that doesn’t think we can play with these guys (TC). Hopefully, we will see them again in the county (tournament).”

The pairings draw for the 2025 Shelby County Tournament, slated for Jan. 9-11 at Triton Central High School, is Monday morning. The girls’ bracket and the boys’ bracket will be determined at that time.

Lucas Shaw led Waldron Thursday with 16 points and five rebounds. Eli Stewart and Will Larrison each had eight points. Ethan Moody finished with seven points.

Max Crouse also reached double digits for Triton Central with 10 points. Cael Butler scored six points off the bench.

Triton Central dominated the junior varsity game, 71-38.

Brody Hartman topped the Tigers with 20 points. Jackson Faust finished with 15.

Jackson Kuhn scored a team-high 16 points for Waldron. Matthew Campbell had 14.

Waldron (0-2) has its first Mid-Hoosier Conference game of the season Saturday at Edinburgh (1-1).

Triton Central (2-1) completes its early-season run through Shelby County opponents Saturday at Southwestern (0-2).

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