GREENCASTLE BOYS' BASKETBALL SECTIONAL: Tiger Cubs start hot, down Eagles to set up showdown with Wolves

Greencastle's Judah Amis was one of four Tiger Cubs in double-figures Wednesday night against South Putnam, coming off the bench to score 11 points as the hosts won their IHSAA Boys' Basketball Class 2A Sectional No. 44 opener over the Eagles 71-45, setting up a meeting with Parke Heritage in the second semifinal Friday night.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

The Greencastle Tiger Cubs played one of their best games of the year when it counted most.

The Cubs shot 69 percent from the field and had 16 assists as they handed South Putnam a 71-45 loss in the opening round of the Greencastle Class 2A Sectional No. 44 Wednesday night.

Sam Gooch led the way with 24 points and six rebounds, but four Cubs in double figures showed the balance they have been looking for.

Two quick scores by Drew Hill put the Eagles up 4-2. Greencastle then went on an impressive 14-3 spurt behind a three from Anthony Adams and a pair of baskets from Gooch.

Hill had the three Eagle points in that stretch, for seven in the quarter.

South continued to fight to keep the game close. Five points from Parker Harris off the bench and a late three from Cameron Bozell kept the visitors within seven after the first.

The second quarter was as efficient of a period from the Tiger Cubs as they had played on the season.

The hosts would hit 6-of-8 shots, 5-of-5 from the foul line and had five assists on the six makes, showing some great team basketball.

Gooch exploded for 13 points in the quarter to boost the advantage to as much as 17 points. Wyatt Mullin hit a free throw late to make 39-23 at the half.

“Our guys did a great job of executing based on what South was doing. They have really learned how to play at the varsity level. Really happy with our performance tonight,” said Greencastle head coach Bryce Rector.

The Tiger Cubs would not relinquish control the rest of the way, only taking eight shots in the third quarter, but making five of them.

Judah Amis was able to come off the bench and add six points late in the quarter. Hill added six more for South Putnam, but it could never get any real momentum going to get back into the contest.

An Amis basket at the buzzer gave Greencastle a 53-33 lead after three.

The Cubs wrapped up the contest to start the fourth with a 15-3 run to put the game out of reach. Once again executing on the offensive end, the hosts hit 5-of-6 from the field, two of two from behind the arc and 6-of-7 from the foul line to finish it off with a 71-45 victory.

South’s end of the season also brings to an end the great career of Drew Hill, who finished with 15 points.

“Drew finished with 1,154 points in his career tonight. He has really helped me build the foundation for our program,” Eagle head coach Josh Estridge said.

The Eagles will look to the building blocks for next season with the rest of the squad returning.

“Khalil Jefferson is going to be a challenge for a lot of teams, Isaac Garner, Drew Cline and Blake Witt are kids that are going to get stronger,” added coach Estridge.

Gooch finished with 24 points, Taygan McRoberts added 13, Judah Amis had 11 and Nathan Sutherlin chipped in 10 points for Greencastle.

The Cubs now look forward to a semifinal match-up with a very good Parke Heritage squad on Friday night.

“There will probably be three to four thousand people here, so we get the chance to play in front of a big crowd at McAnally,” added Rector.

Team Stats

Individual Stats

Scoring - (G) Gooch 24, McRoberts 13, Amis 11, Sutherlin 10, Adams 5, Evans 5, Beasley 2, Dayhuff 1; (SP) Hill 15, Mullin 11, Harris 6, Jefferson 6, Tincher 4, Bozell 3

Rebounding - (G) Gooch 6, McRoberts 4, Adams 2, Sutherlin 1, Evans 1, Williamson 1; (SP) Harris 5, Jefferson 5, Mullin 2, Hill 1, Bozell 1, Cline 1