Tiger Cub girls eye WIC crown with win tonight

When Greencastle’s girls opened their season on Nov. 4 with a 58-32 loss at Cascade, a later rematch in the Western Indiana Conference crossover playoff round didn’t seem likely.

But after righting the ship and watching many of its younger players mature into productive roles, that’s where the Tiger Cubs find themselves tonight after winning the West Division title with a perfect 5-0 mark.

The first time around, Cascade led 12-9 after one quarter but broke things open in the second quarter with a dominating 22-4 effort.

The Tiger Cubs had just learned the day before that leading returning scorer and rebounder Mia Stevens would be out for the season with a knee injury, and they struggled.

Fortunately for coach Bradley Key and his team, that game no longer matters.

“They had a lot of experience coming back,” Key said. “We are a brand new team, and the difference is night and day. That doesn’t mean they’re not a good team.”

Key noted the Cadets are ranked in the top 10 of Class 2A “for a reason” and they don’t have just one player who can be focused upon.

“They are an outstanding team,” he said. “They have three or four players you have to worry about.”

Key’s regular starting lineup has been sophomore Jalyn Duff and senior Gracie Smith at guards, sophomore Claire Gillen at center and junior Rose White and sophomore Bailey Shuee at forwards.

Senior Nailah Ray alternates with Gillen at center, and Key has also gotten good production from sophomore guard Seelye Stoffregen and juniors Marin Nally and Layna Robinson.

“We are very unselfish, and that’s what we mean when we talk about playing Greencastle basketball,” Key said. “We pass the ball, and we find the person with the hot hand. I like our team and I like where we are right now.”

The junior varsity games start at 6 p.m. in the crossover round, with the varsity contests tipping at 7:30 p.m.

WIC girls’ crossovers

1st/2nd place — Cascade at Greencastle

3rd/4th place — Owen Valley at Northview

5th/6th place — Indian Creek at Sullivan

7th/8th place — Edgewood at South Putnam

9th/10th place — Cloverdale at West Vigo

11th/12th place — Brown County at North Putnam

In Thursday girls’ action:

• Indianapolis International 39, North Putnam 34 — At Indianapolis, the Cougars found themselves in a rare position on Thursday night as they led the Gryphons 28-21 after three quarters.

The Cougars were outscored 18-6 in the final period and fell just short of their second win of the season.

The Cougars got five first-quarter points from senior Emilee Henninger to lead 9-5 at the first stop, and Henninger had four more points as NP took a 19-14 halftime lead.

NORTH PUTNAM (34) — Duncan 1 1-2 4, Sims 0 1-2 1, Runnells 0 0-0 0, Young 0 0-0 0, Osburn 1 0-0 2, Lyons 4 2-2 11, Gibson 0 2-2 2, Parent 1 0-0 2, Henninger 5 2-9 12, Tennis 0 0-0 0, Smimerman 0 0-0 0, Spencer 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 FG, 8-17 FT, 34 TP

INDPLS INTERNATIONAL (39) — Tellas 2 0-2 4, Caldwell 4 4-7 12, Burke 2 1-2 5, Ybarra 4 0-1 10, Sasse 2 4-4 8. Totals 14 FG, 89-16 FT, 39 TP

North Putnam 9 10 9 6 — 34

Indpls International 5 9 7 18 — 39

3-point goals — Duncan, Lyons, Ybarra 2.

Next game — North Putnam (1-17) hosts Brown County tonight in the WIC crossover.