Veterans Lead Trojans To Close Win
BOURBON – Experience helped make the difference down the stretch Wednesday night for the Triton girls basketball team.
The duo of Taylor Hatfield and Shana Anderson came up with big plays late in the game to lift the Class 1-A No. 10 Trojans to a 52-48 home win over Rochester.
Hatfield, a junior, hit two free throws with 6.9 seconds to play to give Triton a 50-48 lead and senior Anderson came up with a steal and layup at the final horn to seal the victory over the youthful Zebras.
Hatfield poured in a game-high 21 points, including hitting 8-of-10 free throws, as the Trojans improved to 8-2 with their fifth straight win.
Anderson made a difference in the final frame. The senior, who returned to action Wednesday night after serving a five-game suspension, scored all eight of her points in the fourth quarter.
Triton led 15-8 after the opening quarter and 23-18 at halftime. Rochester, which fell to 4-5 with its third straight loss, cut the lead to 29-28 after the third period.
Kylie Mason had 11 points for the Trojans, who forced Rochester into 24 turnovers in the contest.
Junior Breanna Paulik led Rochester with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Freshmen Keaton Stesiak and Alexa Holland each had nine points for the Zebras.
Rochester won the junior varsity contest by a 39-21 final.
Triton hosts undefeated Warsaw (7-0) next Wednesday in a huge non-conference clash. Rochester plays at North Miami in a Three Rivers Conference contest Saturday afternoon.