NJCAA Region IV Div. II Men's Basketball District 3 Championship
Saturday, March 10, 2018
#3 Olive-Harvey 30 34 ( 64 ) 26-7
#1 Triton 48 54 ( 102 ) 29-4
Triton clicks on all cylinders, trounces O-H for Region title
(Sugar Grove, IL.) – The firepower of top-seeded Triton College was just too much for third-seeded Olive-Harvey College to handle. The Trojans, ranked third nationally in the latest NJCAA Division II poll, overwhelmed the Panthers 102-64 to capture the Region IV Division II District D Championship. Triton, now 28-4 on the season overall, advances to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in downstate Danville beginning on March 20.
Triton controlled most of the action in a fast paced first half, grabbing a 48-30 lead heading to the locker room. The Trojans, who lit up the scoreboard in their first two post-season games scoring 114 and 105 points, made 17 of 18 free throws (94 percent) in the first half alone. Triton then set the tone for the second half on the first two trips up and down the court. The Trojans hammered home two straight dunks, while on the other end of the floor the Panthers were guilty of a shot clock violation and committed an offensive foul.
Only four minutes into the second half the Trojans had extended their lead to 27 points, prompting an Olive-Harvey timeout. It only momentarily delayed the onslaught as Triton quickly built their lead up to 37 points, taking a 78-41 lead just three minutes later. The Trojans led by as many as 42 points as they easily eclipsed their season average of 89.9 point-per-game. Triton hit the century mark for the third consecutive game with 1:50 remaining on an inside basket by Greg Kester. For the game Triton out rebounded the Panthers 52-31 and shot a sizzling 65.5 percent (19 of 29) in the second half alone.
Alondes Williams led a balanced attack for Triton netting 18 points and snagging seven rebounds. The freshman forward was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Corey Shepherd contributed 17 points, while Najee Brown-Henderson and Isaiah Hayes each booked a dozen points. Devin Blake and Deonta Terrell also reached double figures with 10 points each, giving the Trojans six players in double digits. Martell Brown nearly gave Triton a seventh player in that category as he chipped in with nine points. Brown-Henderson, Terrell and Shepherd all were chosen to the All-Tournament Team. Triton head coach Steve Christiansen was chosen as the Region IV Division II District 3 Coach of the Year. Olive-Harvey was led by All-Tournament Team selection Jarviss Sutton who tallied 19 points. Darias Oliver chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds, while guard Sean Atwater was also named to the All-Tournament Team.