Triton’s Skyler Reichert (33) and Jordan Anderson celebrate during a Triton scoring run in the second half of its 47-37 win against Culver in the Triton Boys Basketball Sectional semi-finals Friday night. (Photos by Mike Deak)

BOURBON – The team aspect Triton boys basketball coach Jason Groves noted after his team’s opening round win against LaCrosse was even more evident Friday night. Big plays from a handful of Trojans throughout the second half helped Triton to a 47-37 victory over Culver in the Triton Sectional semi-finals. And for the second time, Triton needed every bit of the help to fend off another opponent.

Joey Corder of Triton slices between Culver defenders for a shot attempt.

After beating Culver twice in the regular season, Triton looked to have had done enough in the third quarter to lock up the third win. A pair of Jordan Anderson three’s put Triton up 27-17, and later, Skyler Reichert drilled a triple from the corner. Anderson stepped behind the arc once again and dropped another three, his fourth of the night, and let out a yell of emotion as his team built a 35-25 lead.

“This is what it has been all year long,” Groves said. “We don’t have that all-star player. But cohesively together as a team, we are a good basketball team. The guys realize that, and they take who is there.”

Culver, however, managed to stick around just enough, and made its move at the outset of the fourth quarter. Preston Hansel and Josh Krsek both converted and-one opportunities and all of a sudden, the Cavaliers were trailing just 35-31 as Triton’s offense fell dormant.

As Hansel was driving in for a layup to cut the lead to two, Joey Corder skied in for a huge block of Hansel’s attempt. Triton then executed over two consecutive minutes of offense, complete with an offensive rebound, that culminated with a Masen Yeo basket. Krsek responded with a bucket, but Yeo would make a nice backdoor cut for a layup on the other end.

Austin Sellers of Triton flies in for a shot attempt against Culver.

Corder would then score six of Triton’s final 10 points while bothered by a rolled ankle that’s hampered him for most of the second half of the season. The effort was exemplary of the makeup of Triton’s tournament success.

Groves said of Corder, “Joey was frustrated, he wasn’t finishing inside and I told him, ‘Joey, we need you in other places. Keep battling.’ I thought he did. He really hit the boards and got key rebounds for us. I was pleased with his effort tonight.”

Anderson would end up leading Triton with 14 points, the only Trojan in double figures. Reichert and Corder both had eight points while Yeo and Grant Johnson ended with six points apiece. Corder added six boards, five assists, four steals and two blocks for good measure.

Hansel and Krsek would combine for 30 of Culver’s 37 points and piled up 13 rebounds between the two. The Cavaliers, which knocked Triton out of the tournament last season at their place, finish up the year 6-17.

Culver’s Preston Hansel hauls in one of his six rebounds against Triton.

Triton moves to 17-7 on the year and are in the midst of a seven-game winning streak. The Trojans will be playing in its eighth sectional championship game in nine years, and playing for its 12th sectional title.

Meeting Triton in the final will be Oregon-Davis, which pulled off the upset of the sectional thus far by pounding South Central (Union Mills) 68-50 in Friday night’s second game.

O-D (10-13), which upset Argos Wednesday night, shot 64 percent from the floor and had four players in double figures on the scoresheet. Leading the way for the Bobcats was Carl Schnekenburger, who was one assist shy of a triple double with 19 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Henry Clark added 13 points and five assists, Blake Hurford had 13 points and seven assists and Joel Worthington was big in the middle with 16 points, five rebounds and four blocks.

South Central (13-10) had Joel Clindaniel led the team with 20 points and Mark Richards chipped in 13 points.

The matchup will be a rematch of game one of the season, where Triton won 63-46 in Hamlet. O-D is looking for its 10th sectional title and its first since 2007, where the Bobcats beat Triton in the sectional final on its way to a Class 1-A state championship.

Tip for the championship game at Triton will be 7 p.m. Saturday night.