Greencastle girls get their 15th win

Saturday, February 7, 2015
Greencastle sophomore Mia Stevens rises up for a jumper over the Lady Bulldog defender. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

MONROVIA--In the final weekend of girls' basketball before sectional play begins, Greencastle traveled to Monrovia looking for its 15th win of the season.

Despite being short starters Callan Taylor, Jessica Lenihan and Lauren Bridgewater, the Tiger Cubs negated a physical Bulldog side on the boards and kept at least a nine-point lead throughout the fourth quarter in a 42-33 win.

Greencastle head coach Bradley Key pointed to the time between games as the main reason the squad handled being shorthanded.

"Our practices are tough, not just on Callan Taylor or Jessica Lenihan, they're tough on everyone," Key said. "There's an equal opportunity to get yelled at in practice.

"It's for the purpose of nights like tonight. We expect everyone to be ready to be able to dribble, shoot and pass and tonight, that paid off.

"I thought they were mentally prepared for the game," Key added. "None of them looked scared; they looked ready to play.

"It was interesting because it's the first time in four years that Callan wasn't in our line-up at one point or another, but it was awesome to see them come out, play well and play together."

Greencastle only trailed once in the game, when Bailee Keen hit a three for a 3-1 Monrovia lead, only to see Paige Bragg come down the court and answer with a three to regain the lead for the visitors.

The Tiger Cubs held an 11-3 lead until the final minute when Daisy Bennett hit a pair of threes, sandwiching an Allison White basket, to cut the deficit down to 13-9 at the end of the first quarter.

An 8-0 run in the first two-plus minutes of the second quarter seemed to set Greencastle on its way to a comfortable halftime lead but the Tiger Cubs did not score again in the half.

Monrovia eventually cobbled together enough openings in the visitors' defense, scoring the final eight points of the quarter to remain down by four at the intermission, 21-17.

Key pointed to the first half as a sign that the offense could function and function well without Taylor in the line-up.

"Bethanie Burgeson was in a different spot, for sure, and I think she did an excellent job of running the point for a while," Key said. "In the first half, we moved the ball unbelievably well."

After the teams traded threes in the opening moments of the second half, Greencastle only gave up a pair of free throws in the third quarter while getting a pair of baskets from Mia Stevens and a Delanie Stoltey three to increase its lead to 31-22 heading into the fourth quarter.

From there, the best Monrovia could do was to trade baskets with the Tiger Cubs, with late free throws from Burgeson and Paige Bragg ensuring that the hosts fell to a Putnam County school for the first time in five games.

Key was impressed with the defending and rebounding of the squad as the visitors outrebounded the Bulldogs 29-21.

"Allison White played with remarkable effort," Key said. "Mia Stevens hasn't had an easy two weeks in practice with me all over her but we need her to play at a high level with players out.

"Those two did well and our guards did a heck of a job blocking out on top. There were only a couple of times where we let someone loose, but as a coach, I couldn't be happier with the team effort.

"Everyone was there to contribute," Key added. "Madison Trout gave us solid minutes off the bench.

"Brynne Shuee came into a big game, with their crowd rocking, and she gave a ton of effort for us. I'm proud of all seven of those girls who stepped in."

Greencastle, the hosts of IHSAA Class 3A Sectional No. 27, awaits the winner of the opening game between Danville and Beech Grove.

Key said with the time available, the squad would look to get healthy and prepare for one of the toughest sectionals in the state.

"According to John Harrell's site, this is the second-best sectional in terms of composite win percentage," Key noted. "We know it's going to be tough because we were beaten up pretty bad by three of those teams earlier in the year.

"I believe we'll have Callan back, which helps us a lot because she's one of the better point guards in this area. We need to continue to do the things we do because at this point of the year, you're not going to put in anything new.

"We play the winner of Beech Grove and Danville, who both pressure you," Key added. "We have to be physical but we're going to keep working on what we do and who we are, find the open shooter and keep knocking down shots."

At Monrovia

Greencastle 13 8 10 11 -- 42

Monrovia 9 8 5 11 -- 33

Statistics

Scoring

Greencastle -- 15-41 FG, 6-12 3-FG, 6-10 FT -- Stevens 11, Burgeson 10, Bragg 9, Stoltey 8, White 4, Trout 0, Shuee 0

Monrovia -- 12-46 FG, 5-21 3-FG, 4-4 FT -- Hunter 11, Keen 10, Bennett 6, Longere 4, Tharp 2, Whitney 0, Price 0, Speck 0, Russell 0

Rebounding (Offensive)

Greencastle 29 (9); Monrovia 21 (8)

Assists

Greencastle 12; Monrovia 8

Steals

Greencastle 8; Monrovia 9

Blocks

Greencastle 0; Monrovia 3

Turnovers

Greencastle 18; Monrovia 16

Next Game: Greencastle (15-7, 4-0 WCC) hosts IHSAA Class 3A Sectional No. 27 and plays the winner of the game Tuesday between Danville and Beech Grove in the second game Friday night.

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