Triton Boys Trying To Reload
Dale Hubler
Times-Union Sports Editor
BOURBON - After losing integral pieces from a 2007-08 Class 1A state championship boys basketball team, the Triton Trojans regrouped and found themselves back in the state finals last year.
This year, the Trojans will need to achieve another feat as they enter the season ranked third in Class 1A.
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Gone from last year's 24-3 team that lost 66-55 to Jac-Cen-Del in the state finals are graduated seniors Colton Keel and Joel Meister.
Keel took his team-high 15.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks to Bethel College, while Meister's 12.9 points and two steals per game will also be missed.
"It's going to be tough to replace a player like Colton Keel with all his scoring, defense, passing and rebounding," Triton fifth-year coach Jason Groves said. "It's going to be tough to replace those two guys."
Those two may be gone, but Groves does return senior Ben Montalbano, as well as juniors Griffyn Carpenter and Austin Davis, all of whom started a year ago, but they won't be the only guys he'll be depending on.
"We'll have about eight guys who will realistically play big minutes," Groves said. "Some of the kids saw time last year, like (junior) Jordan Everett who can shoot the ball really well. (Senior) Taran Holderman is also a very athletic guy."
Other players on this year's squad include seniors Curtis Nordmann, Camron Garey, Kreig Voreis; juniors Jordan Koontz, Dane Kennedy, Blake Lemler; sophomore Zak Shively and highly touted freshmen Quentyn Carpenter and Clay Yeo.
Even though they have no varsity experience, Groves sees the freshmen contributing right away, particularly the 6-foot-4 Yeo.
"He's going to make an impact for sure," Groves said. "At (6-4) he has height, a big wing span and is athletic. Quentyn has great skills, it's just a matter of learning the system."
Helping the freshmen transition to the high school game may be the success they had in middle school, which included only one loss since they were in fifth grade.
"Part of our reason for success is we know what it takes to win," Groves said. "It doesn't just happen. They work everyday in preparation. At this level, they're going to have to work even harder."
And helping Yeo even more may be the 6-5 Davis.
"He's gotten a lot better, bigger and stronger," Groves said of Davis. "He's been more aggressive and is finishing more. He knows he's going to have to give total effort."
Groves also notices Griffyn Carpenter evolving his game, turning into more than a spot-up shooter, which has worked for him as he hit 41 percent of his three-point attempts a year ago, leading the team with 80.
"He's been battling some injuries early this season, both from football and basketball," Groves said of Carpenter, who averaged 15.3 ppg as a sophomore. "He's only practiced about six or seven times, so he's still trying to get into basketball shape. In our scrimmage the other day, he hit several threes and shot the ball well. He's gotten a little quicker, so he's able to score off the dribble. He'll be able to do more than stand and shoot."
One player who has never struggled to get to the hoop has been Montalbano, who led Triton with 5.4 assists a game.
On top of running the show as the point guard, Groves has been happy to see Montalbano also flourishing in a leadership role.
"He's been our leader," Groves said of Montalbano. "He's doing great in all aspects, be it effort or attitude. He knows where the guys need to be and knows what we need."
While he knows what he'll get from Griffyn Carpenter, Davis and Montalbano, Groves is looking to another player to come out of the shadows and excel, which happened with Meister a year ago.
"Clay could have a good year," Groves said. "He can score inside and outside, and he's athletic. Taran Holderman is 6-1 or 6-2 and is also athletic. He's probably the best athlete on our team."
And Groves is hoping that missing player shows up quick as Triton's schedule opens Wednesday at home against Oregon-Davis before hosting Plymouth, NorthWood and travelling to North Miami.
Triton's Northern State Conference schedule opens Dec. 18 at New Prairie, a team Triton will be battling for a conference crown this year.
"New Prairie is one of the favorites in the conference," Groves said. "They have a lot of talent back."
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