Triton senior Seth Glingle (center) tussles with a pair of players from Lafayette Central Catholic during semi state action last Saturday. Glingle and the Trojans play for a state championship Saturday in Indianapolis (Photo by Mike Deak)

BOURBON – Every championship calibre basketball team needs players like Seth Glingle.

The state bound Triton boys basketball team is no exception.

Glingle’s true value to the Trojans will never show up in a final stat sheet. That’s only because the 6-4 center provides heart, hustle and toughness, all categories not accounted for in the numbers.

Glingle, one of five seniors for the 20-5 Trojans, brings much more to the table than just his averages of 4.3 points and five rebounds per game.

“Seth brings something we need and that’s a hard-nosed big guy,” said Triton star Clay Yeo of his teammate. “He’s a scrapper and he’s very competitive. He’s been a key guy for us all year with his defense and rebounding. He’s stepped up this year and been huge for us.”

Glingle and his teammates will face Borden (23-3) on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the Class 1-A state title game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Both the Trojans, who are 20-5, and the Braves were ranked No. 10 in the final Class 1-A poll of the season. The tradition-rich Triton program is making its fourth trip to the State Finals in the last six years. The Trojans won a state championship in 2008.

Glingle, who was on the bench in 2011 when the Trojans lost 59-55  to Indianapolis Metropolitan in the title game, is savoring the final moments of his prep career.

“Right now, I’m just enjoying every bit of our practices and this experience,” said Glingle Tuesday night after practice. “It really hasn’t hit me yet that this will be my last game at Triton.

“This is so important to us. I remember just watching in 2011 when we lost at State. Now, I’m playing and I don’t want to lose on Saturday. I want to go out with a bang and win. Not many players get a chance to say they won their last game.

“I also remember that I did not miss a game and was at State watching in 2008. That was a fun team to watch. My goal was always to get to State. I dreamt about it and now I’m going there.”

The Trojans have made their mark on the defensive end. Triton is allowing just 42.8 points-per-game, which is the eighth best mark in the state. The Trojans have given up just 38 ppg. in their five wins in the state tournament, including three victories over ranked teams.

“We spend a lot of time in practice on defense and it can be a grind and not fun at times,” admitted Glingle. “But, it’s how we win games and it’s what coach is all about and we trust him. He’s had a lot of success.

“The thing is that everyone on this team contributes a lot, even our three seniors who don’t play a lot.  Bryson (Mosier), Trenton (Cooper) and Drew (Mosson) all bust their butts every day and we’re all in this together.

“For me, I just try and work hard and be the one who busts my butt the hardest every day. Playing defense is what I do well.”

The Trojans, who started the season 2-3, have won 12 in a row since a 50-48 loss at LaVille to the host Lancers on Jan. 18 in a semifinal game of the Bi-County Tournament. That setback, which dropped Triton to 8-5, served as the wake-up call.

“Coach told us after that loss to LaVille that we could go one of two ways as a team this year,” Glingle said. “We could be an average team or a good one. There’s been a huge change since then. We took it to heart an practices got tougher and we pushed each other to get better and it’s paid off.”

Glingle’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by his coach.

“I had a heart-to-heart talk with Seth after we lost to LaVille,” said Triton coach Jason Groves, owner of a 159-41 mark in his eight seasons. “I told him he could be our effort leader the rest of the season. He’s really taken that to heart.

“He’s just a blue-collar kid, who is the first one diving on the floor for a 50-50 ball or stepping in and taking a charge for us. He’s really grown and gotten better and better as the season has gone along, just like all of our players have done.”

Glingle, who scored six points last Saturday in a 40-32 semi state win over No. 6 Lafayette Central Catholic,  knows what kind of a game to expect on Saturday against a Borden team only allowing 45 points-per-game.

“It’s going to be a grind and should be a fun game,” said Glingle with a smile. “They are a fundamental team, a lot like us. The key for us will be our focus and our mindset on Saturday.

“The tradition of our program here pushes us even more. When it’s done on Saturday, we want the program to be 2-2 at the State Finals.”