Tiger Cubs drop heartbreaker

Saturday, February 27, 2010

CRAWFORDSVILLE -- When Plans A and B didn't work for North Montgomery's boys basketball team, the Chargers went to Plan C.

Junior guard Jake Thomas hit a driving layup with 1.7 seconds remaining to give the Chargers a 68-66 overtime victory against Greencastle Friday at Linden on North's senior night. North finished .500 at 10-10, while Greencastle dropped to 6-13.

"We were going to try to get the ball inside for an easy basket, but that didn't work," Thomas said. "Then we were going to go to a high ball screen, but that play also didn't work out. So I just decided to take the ball to the hole."

The Chargers followed that basket by executing the defensive plan coach Scott Radeker had worked out. North forced Greencastle's Nick Hutcheson to catch the inbound pass going away from the basket. Hutcheson turned and fired a 3-pointer that didn't hit the rim, concluding North's dramatic victory.

The entire second half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team enjoying more than a four-point lead. Greencastle enjoyed a 62-58 after Keith Carr's basket with under one minute remaining in the fourth quarter.

A pair of Thomas free throws got the Chargers within two points, then Charger senior Colin Maltberger hit a driving layup to send the game into overtime.

"We just did an excellent job down the stretch executing plays after timeouts," Radeker said. "We knew this was going to be a battle. We had seen Greencastle play both in person and on tape, and this was the best time we had seen them play, except for the Southmont game maybe."

Rebounding and turnovers helped the Chargers erase a 31-28 halftime deficit.

North was outrebounded by Greencastle 13-7 in the opening half, but in the second half grabbed 27 boards compared to Greencastle's 15 to outrebound the Tiger Cubs 34-28 for the game.

Greencastle had seven turnovers going into halftime, but turned the ball over nine times in the second half. The defense started up front with pressure from North Montgomery's Thomas and senior Jordan Galloway. Senior Patrick Williams also contributed with four steals.

Krutzsch, however, came up with the biggest steal of the contest, coming from behind to take the ball away from Hutcheson late in the fourth quarter.

"That was a big play for us," Radeker said. "That just shows the type of player that he is."

Greencastle had as big as a 27-17 lead in the second quarter, but North went on a 14-4 run and after Krutzsch's free throw tied the game at 31. From that point, neither team enjoyed more than a four-point lead.

Hutcheson led the Tiger Cubs with 23 points and eight rebounds. He was limited to two rebounds in the second half. Spencer Moore joined Hutcheson in double figures with 10 points.

Greencastle will face Owen Valley Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Owen Valley Class 3A Sectional.

At North Montgomery

North Montgomery 68, Greencastle 66, OT

Greencastle 10 21 18 13 4 -- 66

N. Mont. 12 16 20 14 6 -- 68

Greencastle

Moore 3-5 1-2 10, Huber 3-5 0-0 9, Carr 1-1 3-3 5, Hickam 0-1 0-0 0, Stuckwisch 2-3 0-0 6, Lewis 2-5 5-6 9, Hennette 2-4 0-0 4, Hutcheson 5-16 13-14 23. Team Totals -- 18-40 FG, 22-25 FT, 66 TP.

North Montgomery

Galloway 2-7 0-0 5, Thomas 3-15 7-8 15, Airey 2-4 0-0 5, Maltsberger 6-17 7-7 20, Krutzsch 4-8 2-6 10, Williams 1-2 0-0 2, Nickle 5-8 1-2 11. Team Totals -- 23-61 FG, 17-23 FT, 68 TP.

3-point goals -- Greencastle 8-15 (Moore 3-5, Huber 3-5, Hickam 0-1, Stuckwisch 2-2, Hennette 0-1, Hutcheson 0-1), North Montgomery 5-18 (Galloway 1-4, Thomas 2-6, Airey 1-2, Maltsberger 1-6). Rebounds -- Greencastle 28 (Hutcheson 8), North Montgomery 34 (Nickle 7, Krutzsch 7). Fouls -- Greencatsle 15, North Montgomery 22. Fouled out -- Lewis. Turnovers -- Greencastle 16, North Montgomery 9.