2019-20 Linton Stockton vs Triton Central Recap & Photo Gallery @ New Castle Shootout

The premier match-up of the New Castle Shootout featured the IGBRR 2A #1 Triton Central Tigers vs the #3 Linton Stockton Miners. A little of the luster was lost when the Miners suffered their first set back of the season earlier in the week, nonetheless it would be Triton Central’s toughest challenge to date. The Miners pulled an upset in the closing seconds in the shootout a year ago against Monroe Central and would need a similar performance to repeat the feat. The Tigers only regular season loss a year ago was in the shootout to Central Noble, at the time the defending state champs. Triton Central is led by a pair of seniors in Rylie Stephens and All-Star candidate Maya Chandler, along with three juniors in Phelps, Heath and Stamper. Linton Stockton relies on a trio of juniors in Haley Rose, Aubrey Burgess and junior all-star candidate Vanessa Shafford.

The Tigers slowly built a lead, using a six point quarter from Rylie Stephens to end the first with a 12-7 advantage. Stephens would continue to be the thorn in the Miners side, collecting another 8 points in the second quarter. The lead would blossom to 22-9, before Linton Stockton went on 7-2 run to end the half and trailed 24-16 at the break. Both Burgess and Shafford had 7 first half points but Rose was limited to just 2 for Linton Stockton. Stephens had a game high 14 at the half for her Tigers. Linton Stockton would continue to claw at the Tigers making runs in third that would pull them within a possession multiple times. Linton Stockton won the quarter 13-10 and Triton Central was held to only two field goals but those were two big threes including a quarter ending triple by Stephens to give Triton Central a 34-29 advantage heading into the final quarter. The game was still a tight 40-36 contest heading into the final three minutes. From there the Tigers would hold serve, going 6-7 from the line, and close out on 7-1 run to come away with the 47-37 win. Triton Central was led by an outstanding effort from senior Rylie Stephens with her game and career high 23 points, while Linton Stockton put two players in double figures with junior Vanessa Shafford’s team high 18 and Aubey Burgess netting 15 points.

The game had the feel that Triton Central was in control of the contest from start to finish despite it being a relatively close affair. The Tiger’s depth was evident, and the luxury of having three players that are capable of putting up 20+ on any given night is what separates them from other 2A teams. In a game where Chandler & Phelps combined for only 14 points, you never felt they were struggling it was just Stephens game to shine. At the end of the day Linton Stockton, as we suspected, showed they belonged. Not as deep as their opponent and in a game were Rose was held to only 2 points they were still right there at the end. While Linton Stockton has a tough sectional to navigate, we could see these two in a rematch in the south bracket of the tourney in late February.

Triton Central (8-0) will play Waldron (3-4) on Friday, while Linton Stockton (6-2) will travel to play Owen Valley on Tuesday (2-3).

Triton Central (47): Stephens (23), Phelps (9), Heath (8), Chandler (5), Crist (2)
Linton Stockton (37): Shafford (18), Burgess (15), Rose (2), Womick (2)

 

Photo Gallery 

Photos have been archived at https://igbrr.smugmug.com/

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