Amis, Stoltey key second half rally for Greencastle

Greencastle sophomore Taylor Stoltey attempts to finish a layup in traffic in the fourth quarter. Her two three-point plays helped key the Tiger Cubs to a 44-37 win over Crawfordsville on Tuesday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

Defensive lapses in the first half left the Greencastle girls' basketball team trailing Crawfordsville, but a late charge led by senior Rayleigh Amis and sophomore Taylor Stoltey propelled the team to a 44-37 victory on Tuesday.

Stoltey had 11 of the Tiger Cubs' 22 second half points, but Amis' defense keyed the attack.

GHS coach Bradley Key said both Stoltey and Amis played well enough to be considered the player of the game.

The Athenians were led in scoring by junior Kassidy Bonebrake (19 points, five-of-seven threes), but she was held scoreless after the break.

Crawfordsville was held scoreless for nearly seven minutes to start the third quarter.

"That's purely because of Rayleigh Amis," Key said. "A lot of heart in that senior."

GHS led 12-10 after the first quarter, but Bonebrake came off the bench to spark an Athenian run and give her team a 25-22 lead at the half.

Bonebrake's three-pointers kept dropping, even as she drifted further and further outside the arc. Key said he expected her to start missing so he waited to switch from the team's 2-3 zone defense.

GHS marked Bonebrake with Amis to start the second half, and Bonebrake went 0-for-3 for the rest of the game.

The Tiger Cubs defense stepped up, but the offense lagged. Sophomore Jessica Lenihan had 10 points in the first half but the Athenians adjusted to keep her out of the paint.

That's when Stoltey emerged.

"She is a great athlete," Key said. "Yeah, she scored, and that shows up in the box score, but she goes after the ball. That's why she's out there."

In one key stretch early in the third quarter, Stoltey scored on a layup, got fouled and sank her free throw. On the next possession, she got a steal at the top of the key, went end-to-end and forced another three-point play attempt.

Stoltey finished with 13 points, with 11 coming after halftime.

Lenihan led the team with 14.

With Greencastle up six and 19 seconds to play, the Athenians sent junior Shelby Earl to the line for a one-and-one. The shot rimmed out, but junior Alex Basile shot in to scoop up the rebound and iced the game.

"Having a player like Basile on the floor just makes your team better," Key said. " She is a winner, and that's what winners do. She will do everything we need her to."

Greencastle (4-3) will play next at Tri-West on Tuesday, Nov. 27.

At Greencastle

Individual scoring
Crawfordsville -- Bonebrake 19; Hutson 6; Brooks 4; Garrett 4; Hampton 2; Luft 2. 0-0 FT, 15-56 FG (5-9 3P) -- 37 TP
Greencastle -- Lenihan 14; Stoltey 13; Basile 5; Earl 4; Amis 4; Smiley 4. 6-11 FT, 18-51 FG (2-10 3P) -- 44 TP