Tiger Cubs storm Mounties, win 55-50

Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Greencastle junior Callan Taylor slashes between three Mounties defenders on her way to the hoop for a layup attempt. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

CRAWFORDSVILLE -- Junior Callan Taylor had 17 points and six assists to lead the Greencastle girls' basketball team to a win at Southmont on Tuesday 55-50.

Taylor added five rebounds and three steals to play a complete game that gave the Tiger Cubs (2-1) everything they needed to get past the Mounties (1-2).

"It wasn't a perfect game by any means, and that's what you're shooting for," GHS coach Bradley Key said. "I can see we're learning from the Terre Haute North game to the South Vermillion game to this game, so that's the good thing."

Greencastle worked in a full court zone press against the Mounties, which helped the team force 24 turnovers and allowed Taylor to save some energy for the offensive end. Taylor often picks up the opposing point guard full court, man-to-man.

She also started the game off the ball offensively with senior Alex Basile running the point. Basile had 10 points, three assists and six steals.

"We knew we were wanting to get that game up and down a little bit," Key said. "We did a lot more things for Basile, and that kind of helped out Callan a little bit."

The Tiger Cubs keyed defensively on Southmont senior Cali Wetli, keeping a hand in her face and denying passes to her. Wetli finished the game 0-for-12 from the field, but she brought in 12 rebounds and shot 15-for-18 from the free throw line.

Wetli had caused the Tiger Cubs problems last season, Key said, so keeping her without a field goal was more than they had hoped for.

"We definitely wanted to know where she was at all times," he said.

Greencastle trailed by five at halftime but came out for the third quarter aggressive and attacking on both ends. The Tiger Cubs forced 16 turnovers in the second half and made 15-of-24 free throws after the break.

"When your shots not falling, you've got to make that correction," Key said.

GHS started the third quarter on a 12-2 run and maintained that five-point margin throughout the rest of the game.

Southmont, shorthanded because of injuries and eligibility, had two starters foul out and left the bench even thinner.

Senior Alexa McKinsey had 16 points and three steals for the Mounties.

For Greencastle, junior Jessica Lenihan had 12 points and four rebounds. Sophomore Allison White, getting her first varsity start, had seven points, nine rebounds and two steals.

Sophomore Paige Bragg played extended minutes for the first time, helping the Tigers Cubs with ball handling as the Mounties increased their pressure.

"We had confidence in her going into a game where they were going to press us, and she did a good job of handling the pressure," Key said.

Bragg had four points and four rebounds.

The Tiger Cubs play next against North Putnam in the first round of the Putnam County Classic. The tip is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.

"We want to win the county," Key said. "That's definitely in the back of our minds, but right now we want to keep working on what we do."

Greencastle sophomore Paige Bragg, 5-foot-4, scores a layup over the outstretched arm of 6-foot Southmont defender Aarika McKinsey. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)



At Southmont
Greencastle....13 9 18 13 -- 55
Southmont......9 18 10 13 -- 50

Team stats

*GCOV
FGA-FGM20-5715-47
FTA-FTM16-2521-28
3PA-3PM2-201-10
Reb-Off35 (15)44 (17)
Assists127
Steals137
Blocks11
Turnover2024
Points5550

Scoring
Greencastle (2-1): Taylor 6-18 4-8 17, Lenihan 5-8 1-1 12, Basile 2-7 6-6 10, A White 2-6 3-6 7, Bridgewater 4-16 0-0 7, Bragg 1-2 2-4 4, M White 0-0 0-0 0, D Stoltey 0-0 0-0 0. 3pt_Bridgewater 1-10, Lenihan 1-1, Taylor 0-6, Basile 0-2, White 0-1.

Southmont (1-2): Al. McKinsey 6-10 4-5 16, Wetli 0-12 15-18 15, Shelton 4-11 0-0 9, Burton 1-3 0-3 2, Aa. McKinsey 1-3 0-0 2, Case 1-3 2-2 4, Chadd 2-5 0-0 4. 3pt_Shelton 1-6, Wetli 0-2, Burton 0-1, Chadd 0-1.

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