Tiger Cubs fall to Chargers in finale

LINDEN -- A second-half comeback following a slow first half wasn't enough for the Greencastle boys' basketball team Friday night.

The Tiger Cubs fell to North Montgomery 48-41 in their regular season finale.

Greencastle had trouble hitting the basket in the first half. The Tiger Cubs only connected on 4-of-18 field goals including 1-for-6 from behind the three-point arc.

North Montgomery led at the break 20-12.

Greencastle did not take long to get back into the ballgame. In the first 2:24 of the third quarter, the Tiger Cubs forced three Charger turnovers and quickly took a 21-20 lead.

Junior Anthony Mitchell scored five straight points to put his team in the lead.

"I was proud of my team by they way they came out in the second half and eventually got the lead," Greencastle coach Troy Greenlee said. "I thought our offense was not good in the first half. We had good shots but couldn't get them to go down."

After Charger coach Cole Grindle called his second timeout just 2:32 into the third quarter with the score tied 21-21, the Chargers answered the Tiger Cubs with a run of their own. Baskets by senior Jordan Cory, freshman Caleb Randolph and sophomore Baylee Adams pushed the score back in favor of North 27-21.

The Chargers led 29-27 going into the pivotal fourth quarter.

A 2-point field goal and a three by junior Owen Randolph early in the final period put the Chargers up 34-27 and they never trailed again. Charger junior Alex Parson hit a trey from the baseline to give his club its largest lead of the game at 40-31 with 3:50 left on the clock.

The Tiger Cubs did not go away. With just :43 remaining, Mitchell scored to narrow the lead to 44-41. However, Owen and Caleb Randolph shut the door on Greencastle by hitting 4-of-4 free throws and North Montgomery came away with the victory.

North Montgomery was led in scoring by Owen Randolph and Caleb Randolph with 12 and 10 points respectively. Eight of the nine Charger players who played scored.

The Tiger Cubs were led by junior Brody Bollman's 16 points and senior Holden King's 12.

Both clubs now turn their attention to Friday night's sectional games. Greencastle will play Indian Creek at Beech Grove in the 6 p.m. game.

"We will get to work and figure some things out offensively before Friday," said Greenlee.

The Chargers also play at 6 p.m. at Frankfort against Sagamore Athletic Conference rival Western Boone.

"We know each other pretty well and there won't be any surprises," Grindle said. "It is nice to have some momentum going to a great arena to play in a sectional."

The Tiger Cub junior varsity fell to the Chargers 39-36. The junior varsity finished the season with a 9-9 record, including 4-1 in the West Central Conference.

At Linden
Greencastle 8 4 12 17 -- 41
N. Montgomery 10 10 9 19 -- 48
Greencastle (8-10): Anthony Mitchell 2-5 4-5 8, Holden King 4-9 0-0 12, Brody Bollman 5-12 6-10 16, Lane Winslow 1-3 0-2, Adam Gerard 0-1 0-0 0, Calvin Hughes 0-1 0-0 0, Tanner Nicholson 0-2 0-0 0, Colyn Foxx 0-1 0-0 0, Carl Basile 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Coble 1-8 0-0 3, Jonathon Newgent 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 13-43 10-17 41.
North Montgomery (7-13): Grant Gayler 1-11 2-6 4, Owen Randolph 3-6 5-6 12, Chase Mahoy 4-4 0-0 8, Caleb Randolph 3-8 2-2 10, Baylee Adams 3-3 1-1 7, Elijah Dugard 0-0 0-0 0, Alex Parsons 1-2 0-0 3, Devon Zachary 1-1 0-0 2, Jordan Cory 1-2 0-0 2 Totals 17-37 10-15 48
3-pt shooting: GHS 5-19 (Holden 4-8, Bollman 0-1, Nicholson 0-2, Foxx 0-1, Coble 1-7) NMHS 4-10 (Gayler 0-3, O. Randolph 1-2, C. Randolph 2-4, Parsons 1-1).
Rebounds: GHS 26 (Bollman 6) NMHS 36 (Mahoy 10, Gayler 8)
Turnovers: GHS 12, NMHS 16
Fouls: GHS 15, NMHS 13
Fouled Out: Foxx (GHS)
Junior Varsity NMHS 39, GHS 36