Tiger Cubs tamed by Bruins 62-54

After putting down the South Putnam Eagles in Lizton Saturday, Jan. 24, the Tri-West Bruins invaded Putnam County this last Saturday to challenge the Greencastle Tiger Cubs basketball team. According to Greencastle head coach Troy Greenlee, three days with no practice due to the snow emergency left the Cubs unprepared for the Bruins' attack. The Tiger Cubs were defeated on home turf, 62-54.

The Tiger Cubs started out strong, outscoring the Bruins 20-14 in the first quarter. Kyle Harlan scored a three pointer that was unfortunately his only bucket of the entire game after he scored 25 points against Cascade in Greencastle's last game. Wade Huber tacked on 8 points for the Tiger Cubs with a regular basket and two three pointers. Justin Bartrum knocked down a three as well as a regular basket and Ashton Marshall and Kyle Nobles each contributed a basket.

In the second quarter, the Bruins managed to outscore the Tiger Cubs 16-13 so that at halftime they trailed Greencastle only by three. Tri-West's Randall Lowe ended the second quarter with a total of 13 points against the Tiger Cubs. Wade Huber was the only Greencastle player to come close to that with 11 points after making another three pointer. Nick Hutcheson also put himself on the board for Greencastle with two baskets and a free throw. Griffin Moore got a three, and Nobles scored two more points. At halftime the score was 33-30 in favor of Greencastle.

Things got worse for the Tiger Cubs after the halftime break. The Bruins scored twice as many points as Greencastle did in the third quarter. Jordan Hickam started his night with two buckets, Hutcheson got two free throws, Bartrum scored a regular basket, and Nobles also knocked down another two point shot.

Tri-West's Jake Allen and Lowe would lead the Bruins in the quarter. Allen got two free throws as well as a pair of buckets and Lowe would make a total of three free throws as well as two buckets. Caleb McVicker and Sam Groth would also contribute points for their team.

The Tiger Cubs tried to get back into the game in the fourth quarter, but the Bruins outscored Greencastle by one point. Hickam and Huber both had threes. Hickam also had a regular bucket and a free throw, and Hutcheson scored one more time.

Lowe scored exactly as he had in the third quarter, Allen had another free throw, Joe Pierle added two points, and Groth had two free throws.

"I thought we had some really positive things tonight," Greenlee said. "I thought we played hard. I wasn't sure what to expect after three days of no practice. Yesterday we came in and had a good practice and I was hoping we could carry that over.

We did except we just didn't do enough at the end there. We did not make enough plays and didn't get enough stops for the defensive end, but overall I was pretty pleased with the teams effort. I think what killed us was the third quarter. Too many turnovers, too many opportunities that we missed."

Greencastle will travel to Monrovia Friday for a WCC match-up with the Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m.

At Greencastle

Greencastle 20 13 10 11 -- 54

Tri-West 14 16 20 12 -- 62

Greencastle -- Marshall 2, Harlan 3, Hickam 10, Huber 14, Hutcheson 9, Bartrum 7, G. Moore 3, Nobles 6

Tri-West -- Allen 14, McVicker 7, Lowe 27, Pierle 5, Groth 7, Pfeifer 2

Next Game -- Greencastle at Monrovia, Friday 7:30 p.m.