Triton Athletics

🏀 Triton Unleashes 20-Point Third Quarter to Bury Cougars Tuesday, December 9, 2025 BOURBON, Ind. — The Triton Trojans responded emphatically to their first loss of the season, cruising to a 56-33 victory over Lakeland Christian Academy at the Trojan Trench to improve to 3-1 on the year. After suffering a 47-58 defeat to 3A NorthWood four days earlier, the Trojans needed no time to regain their footing against the visiting Cougars. Triton's balanced attack and stifling defense set the tone early and never let up. Wood Leads the Way Sophomore Brady Wood paced Triton with a game-high 20 points on an efficient 9-of-13 shooting performance. The emerging scorer has been a revelation for the Trojans, providing consistent offensive punch throughout the early season. Wood's 20-point outburst marked a career high and showcased his versatility, connecting on both perimeter shots and drives to the basket. His ability to score from multiple levels continues to make him a difficult matchup for opponents. Balanced Scoring Attack Senior forward Jayden Overmyer added two points on 1-of-4 shooting but made his impact felt in other ways, pulling down five rebounds (four defensive) and dishing out three assists to demonstrate his all-around value to the Trojans. Senior sharpshooter Gage Riffle bounced back from recent struggles with a team-high 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting. The 2025 HNAC All-Conference MVP showed his scoring versatility, connecting on drives and pull-up jumpers while senior point guard Landon Patrick orchestrated the offense with four assists and added two points. Despite a solid shooting night, Riffle also impacted the game in other ways. He pulled down seven rebounds (six defensive) and recorded four steals to lead the Trojans defensively. "When you're struggling shooting the ball, try to make winning plays for us other ways," head coach Jason Groves said. "He had seven deflections tonight. He got involved that way. Got layups. That's what you need to do when you're struggling shooting the ball is just find ways to help the team win, and the shots are going to come eventually." Sophomore Jamison Swanson contributed three points and three assists, continuing to show poise in his growing role. The younger Swanson brother has become a reliable contributor off the bench, providing quality minutes when called upon. Senior Jaidyn Arnett added eight points in limited action, providing valuable scoring punch. "It means a lot, just coming out here and just kicking butt," Arnett said of his performance. Sophomore Isaac Quintana added four points on 2-of-3 shooting, while sophomore Blayze Hensley added two points in his continued development. "It's good to develop and just get out there and play with them to see what it's like for next year, because we're losing a lot of seniors," Hensley said. Groves praised his bench players for their energy and ball movement. "They came in and did a nice job taking care of the ball," Groves said. "I thought they moved the ball better than our first group did. They were kicking, swinging, attacking, reacting. It was nice to see those guys come in, get some time and respond well." Defensive Dominance Triton's defense was once again the story, holding Lakeland Christian to just 33 points on 38.2% shooting (13-of-34). The Cougars struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 3-of-12 three-point attempts (25%). The Trojans forced 18 turnovers and converted them into 25 points, a key factor in controlling the tempo throughout the contest. "You're not always going to hit shots," Groves said. "Your defense is something that's going to be constant and consistent, and you can control that each and every night. That's what the guys have to control." Gage Riffle led the defensive effort with four steals, while Jayden Overmyer added three steals to go along with his offensive production. Triton dominated the glass with a 27-20 rebounding advantage, led by Riffle's seven boards. The Trojans' ability to limit Lakeland Christian to just five offensive rebounds helped them control possessions and prevent second-chance opportunities. Cougars' Effort Falls Short Lakeland Christian (1-3) was led by Noah Higham's 12 points on 3-of-5 shooting. The senior guard kept the Cougars competitive in spurts but lacked sufficient support from his teammates. Aaron Gause added nine points for Lakeland Christian, while Isaiah Stahl and Jaden Moneyheffer each contributed four points. The Cougars struggled to generate consistent offense against Triton's pressure defense. Game Flow Lakeland Christian came out strong, taking an early lead and putting Triton on its heels. The Cougars led 12-11 after the first quarter, but the Trojans gradually found their rhythm. "Don't panic," Groves told his team during the early going. "They're a good basketball team and do a lot of good things, so you're just going to have to work for it." Triton responded with a strong second quarter, outscoring Lakeland Christian 13-6 to take a 24-18 halftime lead. "I like the way we responded, just gradually working our way back in it," Groves said. "We weren't trying too much to get it all at once." The Trojans extended their lead in the third quarter, outscoring Lakeland Christian 20-10 to take command at 44-28 heading into the final frame. The fourth quarter saw Triton maintain control, adding 12 points while holding the Cougars to just five. Triton's largest lead reached 23 points, and the Trojans cruised to the comfortable victory. Looking Ahead The win marked an important bounce-back performance for Triton after the tough loss to NorthWood. Head coach Jason Groves' squad showed resilience and refocused energy, dominating a game they were expected to win. Triton returns to action Friday, December 12, when they host Pioneer at 7:30 p.m. for an HNAC matchup. The Trojans will look to build on this victory and continue their strong start to the season. Lakeland Christian, meanwhile, returns home to host Hoosier Plains Conference rival Elkhart Christian on Thursday, December 12. • TRITON 56, LAKELAND CHRISTIAN 33 At Trojan Trench LAKELAND CHRISTIAN: Noah Higham 3-5 4-6 12; Aaron Gause 3-7 0-0 9; Isaiah Stahl 2-5 0-0 4; Jaden Moneyheffer 2-3 0-0 4; Kolton Shepherd 1-2 0-2 2; Zaiden Miller 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 13-34 4-8 33. TRITON: Brady Wood 9-13 0-0 20; Gage Riffle 7-12 0-0 15; Jaidyn Arnett 3-5 0-0 8; Isaac Quintana 2-3 0-0 4; Jamison Swanson 1-7 0-0 3; Jayden Overmyer 1-4 0-0 2; Landon Patrick 1-1 0-0 2; Blayze Hensley 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 25-48 0-2 56. LCA 12 6 10 5 - 33 Triton 11 13 20 12 - 56 3-point goals: Lakeland Christian 3-12 (Aaron Gause 1-4, Noah Higham 2-3), Triton 6-21 (Brady Wood 2-5, Jaidyn Arnett 2-4, Gage Riffle 1-5, Jamison Swanson 1-6). Total Fouls: Lakeland Christian 5, Triton 12. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Lakeland Christian 20 (Aaron Gause 7, Isaiah Stahl 5, Jaden Moneyheffer 3, Kolton Shepherd 1, Zaiden Miller 1, Jashawn Zielasko 1), Triton 27 (Gage Riffle 7, Jayden Overmyer 5, Jamison Swanson 2, Jaidyn Arnett 2, Isaac Quintana 2, Max Johnson 2, Blayze Hensley 1, Levi McFarland 1, Colton Large 1). Assists: Lakeland Christian 8 (Aaron Gause 3, Zaiden Miller 2, Isaiah Stahl 1, Kolton Shepherd 1, Jashawn Zielasko 1), Triton 15 (Landon Patrick 4, Jamison Swanson 3, Jayden Overmyer 3, Jayden Overmyer 3, Blayze Hensley 1, Max Johnson 1). Turnovers: Lakeland Christian 18, Triton 9. Steals: Lakeland Christian 2 (Isaiah Stahl 2), Triton 11 (Gage Riffle 4, Jayden Overmyer 3, Jamison Swanson 1, Jaidyn Arnett 1, Brady Wood 1, Blayze Hensley 1). Blocks: Lakeland Christian 0, Triton 1 (Jaidyn Arnett 1). Records: Lakeland Christian 1–3, Triton 3–1. Next: Triton vs Pioneer (Fri., Dec. 12, 7:30 pm); Lakeland Christian vs Elkhart Christian (Thu., Dec. 12). Article writing assisted by AI Media outlets and fans are encouraged to share our posts on Facebook; however, you may not reproduce the articles or accompanying images on your own website.