In March, the Triton College
basketball team fought through its own junior college national competition “madness,” ending up with a second place finish – overall – to cap a season with a winning record officials say tied with the best in team history. The Trojans are the national runner-up after losing 88-73 to Barton County Community College March 30 at the NJCAA Division I Championship Tournament played in Hutchinson, Kansas, according to a Triton news release announcing the feat. The Triton College Trojans men’s basketball team placed runner-up in the NJCAA Division I Championship Tournament played March 30, 2024 in Hutchinson, Kansas v. Barton County Community College, located in Kansas. AJ Dixon (24), a freshman guard on the Triton College Trojans men’s basketball team, was named to the All-Tournament Team in the NJCAA Division I Championship Tournament played March 30, 2024 in Hutchinson, Kansas v. Barton County Community College, located in Kansas. (Courtesy NJCAA) Overall, the men’s basketball team finished the season 34-3, tying the most wins in team history, the release states. In addition to the runner-up prize, players Amar Augillard, a 6’5 guard and alum of Zion-Benton High School in far-north suburban Zion, and AJ Dixon, a 6’5 guard who attended Merrillville High School in Indiana, were named to the All-Tournament Team. Dylan Williams, a 5’11 guard from South Carolina, earned the Best Small Man Award. Triton also won the Team Sportsmanship Award for the tournament. Dylan Williams (3), a sophomore guard on the Triton College Trojans men’s basketball team, received the Best Small Man Award in the NJCAA Division I Championship Tournament played March 30, 2024 in Hutchinson, Kansas v. Barton County Community College, located in Kansas. (Courtesy NJCAA) Amar Augillard (5), a red shirt sophomore guard on the Triton College Trojans men’s basketball team, was named to the All-Tournament Team in the NJCAA Division I Championship Tournament played March 30, 2024 in Hutchinson, Kansas v. Barton County Community College, located in Kansas. (Courtesy NJCAA) “The team has been unbelievable,” said first-year Triton College head coach Brian Burns, who received the Midwest District Coach of the Year Award at the national tournament. Despite the loss to Barton – located in Great Bend, Kansas – Burns said he was “proud of the way the guys hung in there.” “Obviously it’s great for the school. Two Final Fours in three years and now a national runner-up, not just a semifinalist,” he said. “It’s been a great run.”