GMS sixth graders wrap up season

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Members of the Greencastle Middle School team are (front) Anthony Rossak, Chase Chew, Ryan Coble, Zach Wilkerson, (back) Coach Mark Lewis, Jacob Lewis, Brandon Gierke, Cole Edgar, Cade Bailey and assistant coach Scott Wilkerson.

GREENCATLE -- The Greencastle sixth grade boys' basketball team finished their season this past weekend with a record of 9-7.

The majority of their games this season were part of the Indy Hoops league, a highly competitive group of teams in central Indiana in and around Indianapolis. Because this was their first year playing basketball together and because they were competing against opponents that had typically been together 2 to 3 years, the Greencastle squad started slow in the Indy Hoops league, losing four of their first five games.

However, the team came together and finished the Indy Hoops season strong by winning their last four games, earning an eighth-place seed out of 16 teams in the South/West Division. Unfortunately, however, the purple and white bowed out of the Indy Hoops tournament prematurely with a hard fought loss to SW Shelby County.

Besides the Indy Hoops season, the Greencastle 6th grade team also played Cloverdale and Owen Valley 6th grade basketball teams and defeated both of them at their home gymnasiums, with the Owen Valley contest being a particularly close match.

The Greencastle team, joined by fourth grader Colin York and cheered by a loyal band of supporters, then finished their season in a tournament at Mitchell (the team was sponsored by HOP Technologies).

Greencastle defeated both Paoli and Eastern Greene County, but lost twice to host Mitchell, once in the preliminary round and then in the tournament semifinals.

The team improved substantially throughout the season, learning various offensive and defensive schemes while honing fundamental basketball skills like teamwork, ball handling, passing, and shooting. Just as importantly, they also represented Greencastle well as gentlemen both on and off the court whether they won or lost.

The Greencastle sixth grade boys' basketball team was coached by Mark Lewis, who was assisted by Scott Wilkerson.