Surreal.
That’s the word that both Landon Patrick and Gage Riffle used first to describe the biggest play of their prep basketball careers.
The pair of Triton High School senior guards were still processing the final seconds of a thrilling regional title game win two days after the fact.
Patrick came up with a steal and Riffle hit the ensuing layup on the play with just 1.4 seconds to play to lift their team past Marquette Catholic, 53-51, in the Class 1A North Judson regional contest March 14.
The victory sends the Trojans into the semi-state round Saturday, March 21 in the Marian Crawley Center at Lafayette Jefferson High School. No. 4 Triton, now 23-3 thanks to a 13-game winning streak, meets Tri-County (16-10) in the second semifinal at 12 p.m. The winner of that game plays either No. 7 Monroe Central (21-4) or North Vermillion (16-11) at 8 p.m. Saturday for a semi-state title and a spot in the Class 1A state championship game on Saturday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m. in Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
“It was incredible,” said Patrick in a phone interview Monday night of the biggest steal of his career. “There were so many ups and downs in that game. We just found a way to win. I could do nothing except smile when I saw Gage make that layup Saturday.”
Riffle, who had nine points in the regional win, gave credit to his teammate.
“I give big props to Landon for making that play on defense,” Riffle said by phone Monday night. “It was just a great team effort. It’s a blessing”
Riffle, one of five seniors, noted that his layup was without question the biggest shot of his prep career.
“Absolutely not,” responded Riffle on if he had ever made a bigger shot in a Triton jersey. “That was as good as it gets. This just means so much to me with the work and the time that all of us have invested.”
Triton basketball built on defense
It was only fitting that a defensive play turned into the game winner for the Trojans. Triton is allowing just 38 ppg. on the season, and the program has been known for its defensive work for years under longtime coach Jason Groves.
“Obviously, I don’t score as much, so I have to find other ways to contribute and help my team and that’s on defense,” Patrick said. “We have a couple of dogs on defense on this team, but I like to guard the top scorer on the other team. Our man-to-man defense is what got us to where we are at now.”
Patrick has been in the Triton school’s system since his freshman year after previously attending school in the nearby Tippecanoe Valley system. The guard comes from great bloodlines as his father, Chad, was a star player at Whitko High School and then a coach at Tippecanoe Valley.
Grandfather Bill is an Indiana Basketball Hall of Famer who is best known for his coaching success at both Whitko High School and Tippecanoe Valley. Bill took Whitko to the Final Four in 1991 and won 764 games in his 48-year coaching career.
Groves praised the work of both of his seniors.
“The impact of those two on our team has been huge,” Groves said Monday night by phone. “Landon just creates so much at both ends of the floor for us. He’s our vocal leader as our point guard. He just makes everyone around him better.
“Gage is a great asset for us. He’s always been a threat as a 3-point shooter. He’s long and can run forever on the floor. The big thing this season for him is that he’s doing the little things for us too.”
Triton beat Marquette despite being outscored 16-0 from the free throw line. The Blazers were 16-of-17, while the Trojans were just 0-of-2. Sophomore Brady Wood led the way with 18 points. Senior Julian Swanson scored 13 points, Riffle nine, Jayden Overmyer eight and Patrick three.
Swanson leads the team at 12.4 ppg. with Wood at 12. Overmyer averages 10.1 ppg., Riffle 8.8 and Patrick 5.3. Swanson has a team-high 49 treys, Riffle 45 and Wood 35. The Trojans make a living off turnovers and steals. They average a 21-7 margin in points off turnovers per game and average 10.8 steals per contest.
Groves knows a thing or two about success. The former Bethel University player is 369-153 in his 21st season in Bourbon. He won a state title in 2008 and earned state runner-up finishes in 2009, 2011 and 2013.
Triton got to the semi-state round at Lafayette Jeff a year ago. The Trojans saw a 23-5 season end with a 62-47 loss to Clinton Prairie in the semifinal contest. CP went on to finish as state runner-up.
“It means the world to me to carry on the legacy of this program,” said Riffle. “Coach Groves is not just a great coach, but a great man. I love playing for him.
“I’m just so pumped up to play Saturday. We got a taste of success last year at the semi-state and that made us want to go back this year even more. It just feels so good to do it. It’s a blessing.”
Patrick says it’s easy to pinpoint why the Class of 2026, which also includes Isaac Quintana, leads this team.
“Our chemistry is very good,” said Patrick, whose 87 steals this season is a single season program record. “There is a lack of selfishness among us. We are all skilled players, and we trust everyone on this team. We know that everyone on this team can get the job done for us.”
Groves’ team has lost to NorthWood (58-47), Kouts (65-50) and Bremen (47-42) this season.
“It means a lot for these seniors to get this opportunity,” Groves said. “It’s a good group, who are invested in our program. They have given back and that’s what you want as a coach.”
Patrick plans to attend Indiana University in Bloomington with hopes of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. Riffle is going to attend Grace College and plans to play for the Lancers.
Both know the opportunity that lies in front of them come Saturday.
“We know Saturday will be tough and we can take nothing for granted,” Patrick remarked. “This senior class is very hungry. A lot of us got in the gym last summer and busted our butts for this season. Right now, we just have to go 1-0 Saturday against Tri-County.”
“We’re confident, but we respect every opponent,” Riffle added. “We just have to be locked in, play together, play our style and play hard all four quarters Saturday.”
Groves knows his team is in a good place.
“Our kids are driven and dialed in,” Groves said. “They think that they can win. We know that we can’t take anyone for granted. Our approach is the same as all year. It’s on the team in front of us.
“Swanson has been a difference maker for us about the last three weeks. He’s really been aggressive offensively for us. And Justin Overmyer has played really well since we switched him from a guard to the post. He’s just so strong and athletic.
“We will focus on ourselves. Our consistency has been a lot better lately in the last one third of our season. If we play to our potential Saturday, good things will happen.”
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Patrick, Riffle lead Triton boys basketball into IHSAA semi-state
Reporting by Scott Davidson, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
