GMS 7th graders dominate Cougars for title

The Greencastle 7th grade girls team captured the 2010 Putnam County Championship Thursday over North Putnam 23-5. Members of the GMS team are Abby Manion, Marlee Nichols, Sammy Newcomer, Callan Taylor, Taylor Stoltey, Brittany Welker, Mary Parker, Breanna Ferrand, Trinity Brown, Sydney Secrest, Tera Amis, Delanie Stoltey, Cailee Peckenpaugh, Kayce Kean, Sydney Stuckwisch, Sydney Smiley, Erica Hoagland and Jessica Lenihan

GREENCASTLE -- It didn't take long for the Greencastle seventh grade girls' basketball to prove what they came to prove. They put up some quick points, held North Putnam scoreless in the first half and came away with a 23-5 victory and the Putnam County Championship.

The Tiger Cubs were able to jump out to a comfortable 6-0 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 12-0 at the half.

Sydney Stuckwisch led the way in the first half with six points, followed by Jessica Lenihan with three, Taylor Stoltey with two and Callan Taylor with one.

Sydney Smiley

Greencastle used an effective zone defense that didn't allow the Cougars to penetrate, keeping them off the scoreboard until two minutes into the third.

North Putnam put their first points on the board at the 3:54 mark when Sabrina Surber converted 1-of-2 free throws. Greencastle then proceeded to go on a 9-0 run to close the third to enter the final stanza leading 21-1.

In the final six minutes, Greencastle was only able to muster two points, but it was more than enough to seal the deal.

North Putnam outscored the Tiger Cubs 4-2 in the quarter, with all four points coming from Josie Douglas off the bench.

Stuckwisch led the Tiger Cubs with eight points, followed by Lenihan with six and Stoltey with four. Sydney Secrest and Sydney Smiley chipped in two points each, with Taylor adding one point.

Douglas was North's top scorer with four points, with Surber adding one point in the loss.

"We played Greencastle about a month ago and we knew they were good and a lot bigger than we were. Defensively, I thought we played defensively well enough to keep us in the game, but tonight we just couldn't get any shots to drop," North Putnam head coach Don Simpson said.

Due to technical difficulties, the interview with Greencastle head coach Matt Welker was unavailable.

At South Putnam

7th grade Putnam County Championship

Greencastle 6 6 9 2 -- 23

North Putnam 0 0 1 4 -- 5

GMS (23) -- Stuckwisch 8, Lenihan 6, Stoltey 4, Secrest 2, Smiley 2, Taylor 1. Totals: 9-42 FG, 5-16 FT, 23 TP.

NPMS (5) -- Douglas 4, Surber 1. Totals: 2-46 FG, 1-6 FT, 5 TP.