Sparkplugs shock Tiger Cubs by 7

Greencastle's Alyssa Nichols slices through traffic during Friday's contest against Speedway.

GREENCASTLE -- Girls basketball is traditionally a low-scoring affair. However Greencastle and Speedway combined for 155 total points Friday, with the Sparkplugs gaining the edge 81-74.

The win snapped a three-game skid for the Sparkplugs and dropped the Tiger Cubs to 10-4 on the season. Speedway was 11-for-18 from three-point range on the night and caused the GHS defense grief all evening long.

"Give some credit to Speedway; they lit it up," GHS head coach Bradley Key said. "Looking at their stats, their shooting percentage all year hasn't been great and their girls did a good job of hitting it. We lost them a couple times on defense and that's sometimes on me. We switched up our defense, we'd go two or a 1-3-1 and then all of sudden one girls wouldn't know and then we'd leave someone wide open. I always tell them, anyone can win a (a game of) pig. They hit some tough shots though."

Both teams caught fire in the first half, with Greencastle leading at the break 45-35. GHS senior Chelsea Samuels went off for 19 points in the half, with fellow senior Mallory Miller adding 12. Speedway's JoJo Daghe matched Samuels 19 points.

Nursing a 10-point lead, Greencastle was in prime position to add their 11th win of the season. Speedway had other ideas and showed they were going to be a thorn in Greencastle's side throughout the second half.

The Tiger Cubs were able to hang on to a seven-point lead heading into the final quarter, but their solid shooting went south in the final period, while Speedway began to knock down shot after shot.

Back to back three-pointers from Bailey Smith and Allison Nash cut the Tiger Cubs' lead to one at 67-66 and a free throw from Daghe tied the game at 67-all.

Miller gave GHS the lead briefly following a three-pointer, but Speedway was able to chip away at the lead and went ahead for good when Daghe hit a shot with 4:03 remaining in the contest. Greencastle tried to make a run, but as the clock moved to all zeroes Speedway waltzed away with an 81-74 victory.

Daghe led all scorers with 40 points, Smith added 18 and Nash 12. Samuels led Greencastle with 25 points, followed by Miller with 22 and Alyssa Nichols with 12.

Key said he was pleased with the offensive production, but he found his team's defense lacking.

"I thought we did a good job of scoring. Defensively it's got to get better, especially if we're going to achieve the goals we're wanting to achieve. That defense wasn't good at all and we have to do something about that," he said.

Key also said he thought Samuels had an outstanding outing.

Greencastle will travel to Brown County today at 1:30 p.m.

At Greencastle

Speedway 18 17 25 21 -- 81

Greencastle 22 23 22 7 -- 74

Individual Scoring

Speedway -- Daghe 40, Smith 18, Nash 12, Tavis 6, R. Smith 2, Gregory 3. Totals: 29-56 FG, 12-18 FT, 81 TP.

Greencastle -- Samuels 25, Miller 22, Nichols 12, Pruitt 10, Amis 5. Totals: 28-76 FG, 9-13 FT, 74 TP.

Next game -- Greencastle will travel to Brown County today at 1:30 p.m.