The victory was the fourth in five games for Triton (4-5), and senior forward Donte Vaughan thinks those tough early games are paying off for the Mustangs.
"Playing better teams toughens you up," said the 6-foot-2 Vaughan, who collected 14 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, and three blocks.
Triton is a tough team. The Mustangs are a scrappy, blue-collar squad with three starters who also were standout members of the school's 8-3 football team.
They're not smooth. But they play defense, rebound, and scramble for loose balls.
"They have that mentality," McLean said. "We're physical."
Besides Vaughan, Triton's three other double-figure scorers Friday night were football players. Quarterback/forward Brian Keller went for 12 points and eight rebounds. Linebacker/forward John Bowers scored 11. Defensive end/guard Isaiah Baylor generated 17 points, five assists, and three steals.
"We use our football in basketball," said Baylor, a 6-0 sophomore. "We use that on the court. It gives us our momentum."
Senior guard Conor Kelly scored 21 for Cherokee (6-5), which had won six of seven. The Chiefs trailed by 46-29 after three quarters but rallied in the final eight minutes as Kelly scored 12 and senior forward Tyrone Ringgold added seven with three steals.
"You have to give them so much credit for the way they battled back," McLean said of Cherokee. "They never quit."
Triton lost those first four games by a combined 89 points. The Mustangs' other loss was to 10-1 Cherry Hill East. That means four of their five losses were to the Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 5 teams in the current rankings.
"I think we have the toughest schedule in South Jersey," Baylor said.
McLean said his team found its footing in a Jan. 5 upset of Shawnee, a victory that has Triton alone in first place in the Olympic's Patriot Division.
"We've been getting better and better," McLean said. "But we're inconsistent. We play well for a stretch, then we struggle."
Vaughan had six points and six rebounds in the first quarter, and Baylor had five points and four assists in the second as Triton built a 33-15 halftime lead. The Mustangs were still in command entering the fourth quarter.
Cherokee's rally produced some anxious moments on the Triton side, but the Mustangs survived as Vaughan sliced inside for three layups and Baylor went 6 for 7 from the foul line.
"I think we're a team to be reckoned with," Vaughan said.
Cherokee 9 6 14 31 – 60
Triton 12 21 13 17 – 63
C: Shaquille Simmons 7, Tyrone Ringgold 10, Conor Kelly 21, Anthony Fiorvanti 2, Rasheen Ellis 2, Kevin Wixted 5, Kyle Kahringer 11, Jake Powell 2.
T: John Bowers 11, Nick Concepción 5, Dylan Daniluk 4, Brian Keller 12, Donte Vaughan 14, Isaiah Baylor 17.
Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasia@phillynews.com, or @PhilAnastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.com/jerseysidesports
