SPHS defense too much for Tiger Cubs

Greencastle High School girls' basketball coach Glenn Hile has seen it before.

On Friday, his team had time finding the bottom of the bucket as the Tiger Cubs fell to South Putnam, 32-21.

Greencastle dropped to 1-14 overall this season, including 0-3 in the West Central Conference, while the Eagles improved to 7-8 and 1-2.

"We just shot poorly," Hile said following the game. The Tiger Cubs were 9-of-51 from the field. "I think thi is the first time all year where we were just too tight."

South Putnam coach Debbie Steffy said defense is what propelled her team to victory.

"That's what kept us in the game," she said.

The Eagles played a mixture of zone defenses against the Tiger Cubs to keep Greencastle's taller players at bay.

"That was the reason we did it," Steffy said referring to the zones and Greencastle's front line. "(Greencastle's) postplayers are good postplayers. But, I thought our kids played well."

South Putnam's defense held Lauren Robertson and Grace Fisher to a combined 1-of-25 from the field Friday.

"They had plenty of shots," Hile said.

"That was one of our concentrations this week in practice, keeping track of their shooters," Steffy said.

It seemed as if neither team was going to find the bucket early in the game Friday. The first points of the game came courtesy a Sam Stanifer jumper, giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead with 4:17 left in the first period.

Greencastle pulled with one, 9-8, midway through the second period thanks to a three-pointer from Fisher, but South Putnam outscored the Tiger Cubs, 5-2, to close the first half with a 14-10 lead.

Both teams were a combined 9-of-46 from the field in the first half.

South Putnam's zone defense kept the Tiger Cubs at bay again in the third period as the Eagles outscored GHS, 10-4, in the frame to build a comfortable 21-14 lead.

But the Tiger Cubs came back, pulling to within five once in the final frame before free throws from Megan Robinson and Oceaia Boetjer and a basket from Meghan Canary gave South Putnam a 28-18 lead.

Following a bucket by Greencastle's Olivia Miller, the Eagles got two free throws and a bucket from Canary to seal the win.

"In our minds, we thought we could beat them," Hile said. "But we wanted to win so bad, we couldn't perform up to our ability."

Canary led all scorers with 12. Greencastle was paced by Kelsey Hennette's eight points.

Greencastle will face Eminence at home Tuesday while the Eagles face Monrovia at home Friday.

At Greencastle

South Putnam 4 10 7 11 -- 32

Greencastle 3 7 4 7 -- 21

South Putnam -- Canary 5-13 2-3 12, Robinson 0-4 2-4 2, Stanifer 2-8 1-2 5, Birt 2-7 1-2 5, Searles 1-7 1-4 3, Boetjer 0-3 3-4 3, Butts 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 11-44 FG, 10-19 FT, 32 TP.

Greencastle -- Robertson 0-11 0-1 0, Fisher 1-14 0-0 3, Miller 4-8 0-2 8, Hennette 3-7 2-4 8, Alspaugh 1-7 0-0 2, Grivas 0-4 0-2 0. Totals 9-51 FG, 2-9 FT, 21 TP.

3-pt. FG -- SPHS 0-3, GHS 1-13 (Fisher 1-8). Rebounds -- SPHS 29 (Searles 12), GHS 34 (Hennette, Grivas 10). Blocks -- SPHS 2 (Canary, Boetjer), GHS 3 (Miller 2). Assists -- SPHS 7 (Canary 3), GHS 5 (Robertson 3). Steals -- SPHS 3 (Canary, Birt, Searles), GHS 2 (Robertson, Miller). Total Fouls -- SPHS 13, GHS 17. Fouled Out -- Miller (GHS). Turnovers -- SPHS 7, GHS 12.

Next Games -- The Eagles (7--8, 1-2) face Monrovia at home on Friday. Greencastle (1-14, 0-3) take on Eminence at home Tuesday.