Tiger Cubs top Clovers in County Classic opener

Friday, December 5, 2014

A close contest throughout was the story at McAnally Center Friday night when the Cloverdale boys' basketball team took on Greencastle in the first game of the Putnam County Classic. A late push by Cloverdale made the game interesting but Greencastle pulled out the win via some great late-game foul shooting.

The game began with Cloverdale taking an early 12-5 lead. Senior K. J. Coleman hit an early three and senior Marquise Moore did the same. However Greencastle went on a 7-2 run that made the first quarter score 14-12 with Cloverdale leading. That was the only quarter Cloverdale won.

"I thought our kids showed great poise tonight," GHS coach Troy Greenlee said. "When things got a bit tight, they just made the plays that they had to make."

GHS senior Brody Bollman drives into the paint for two of his 12 points. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

During the second quarter, the Tiger Cubs pushed the ball into the paint again and again, leading to senior Brody Bollman's seven second-quarter points. Tiger Cub junior Ryan Coble, who made a three in the first scored again from beyond the arc to help Greencastle to the quarter victory.

Cloverdale's senior Cooper Neese was constantly on the attack. As was senior Brantson Scott, who used post moves to match Greencastle's attempts in the paint. Cloverdale was not able to keep up the scoring pace in the second.

"We've got to cut down our turnovers," Clover coach Pat Rady said. "We are giving up way too many turnovers. Our rebounding, we can't give up that many rebounds especially on the offensive end. Then our defense..."

Cloverdale's K.J. Coleman disregards the defense by Adam Gerard and sinks the short jumper. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Rady said once his team handles those three areas of concern it will be a tough team to beat. Of course, Cloverdale was no pushover in the second half. The Clovers continued to pound the paint for the second half and Scott had much more success. He had 14 second-half points, including two foul shots in the third.

However some three-point shooting by Greencastle's Coble and freshman Colin York kept Greencastle the 37-32 lead going into the fourth.

"We feel like we have a couple of guys that can really knock down shots," Greenlee said. "We also feel like we have some guys that can drive the ball. It's just a matter of whatever the defense gives us. When those guys have open looks, we want them to take them. They made some big shots."

Greencastle's Ryan Coble was the leading scorer for Greencastle. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Early in the fourth quarter Marquise Moore got into foul trouble, which left Neese and Scott to make the Cloverdale comeback attempt. Despite the constant pressure in the lane from the Clovers, who scored 17 fourth-quarter points, they were not able to stop the Tiger Cubs' Bollman from hitting foul shots.

The senior made five-of-six foul shots in the fourth to seal the game even with the Clovers making shot after shot.

Greencastle will take on North Putnam for the County Championship at 8 p.m.on Saturday while Cloverdale will play South Putnam at 6 p.m.

GHS freshman Colin York looks to knock down a jumper. He nailed four threes in the win. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

At Greencastle

Cloverdale 14 7 11 17 -- 56

Cloverdale's Cooper Neese (11) steps back to clear space from Ryan Coble (24). Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Greencastle 12 14 11 19 -- 49

Individual Stats

Cloverdale

Scott 20 pts, 5 reb, 1blk; Coleman 12 pts, 3 reb, 1 stl, 1blk; Neese 9 pts, 5 reb, 4 asst, 1 st; M Moore 6 pts, 7 reb, 3 asst, 1 stl; Duff 2 pts, 2 reb; J Moore 1 reb, 1 stl

Greencastle

Coble 14 pts, 5 reb, 2 asst, 3 stl; Bollman 12 pts, 4 reb, 5 asst; York 12 pts 1 reb, 1 asst; Foxx 8 pts, 6 reb, 3 asst; Mitchell 4 pts, 3 reb, 2 asst, 2 stl; Gerard 4 pts, 4 reb; Matthews 2 pts, 1 reb

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  • Greencastle almost always does a great job. The game was exciting to watch. Lockett does a fair job of describing the game. Some of the greencastle players can really jump. Overall good game.

    -- Posted by Eowyn on Sun, Dec 7, 2014, at 1:31 AM
  • Cooper Neese - Sophomore*** and Greencastle won the game the stat line does not indicate so.

    -- Posted by GCastle12 on Sun, Dec 7, 2014, at 2:03 PM
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