Greencastle's boys took control early and never relented to defeat Cascade, 58-50, Friday in a West Central Conference basketball game at the McAnally Center

Greencastle's boys took control early and never relented to defeat

Cascade, 58-50, Friday in a West Central Conference basketball game at the McAnally Center.

It was the most impressive triumph of the season for Coach Troy

Greenlee's team (6-8, 2-2 WCC), the first conference loss for the Cadets (8-6, 4-1).

"I think it's the best we've played as a team," Greenlee said.

"Defensively it was the best and we played very well offensively. It goes to show you what happens when you share the ball well and get everybody involved. It was the best all-around game we've played this year."

The Tiger Cubs played solid consistently, avoided inefficient lapses and

never allowed Cascade to make extended runs.

Greenlee isn't sure why Greencastle played the way it did against Cascade, but he suspects it has something to do with the fact it's the second half of the season.

"If I knew why we played like this tonight, I'd bottle it and sell it,"

Greenlee said. "I think maturity has much to do with it. We've had spurts where we played like that and then we've have spurts where we played poorly.

Cascade made some runs, but we were able to cut them off and maintain our composure. Our difficult spurts were short and less damaging."

Junior Cal Gard led the Tiger Cuts with 23 points and sophomore center

Brennan Burks had 16 points and nine rebounds. Gard, Burks and Zac Remsburg made critical baskets to stop Cascade's momentum in the second half.

Greencastle charged to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter and led 30-22 at

halftime.

The Cadets went on a 7-0 run in the third period to move within four,

35-31. Remsburg's breakaway layup stopped it and provided breathing room.

Kevin Pusateri worked inside for a basket with seven seconds left in the

period to move Cascade back within four.

Gard showed his poise by bringing the ball into the front court under

control. He had time to square up and netted a 30-foot three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Tiger Cubs had regained momentum with a 42-35 advantage.

"That was a big play," Greenlee said. "It boosted us into the fourth

quarter. We needed something to get us going into the fourth quarter."

Cascade made a final assault midway through the fourth.

Pusateri, a 6-foot-2 center with quickness, leaping ability and a soft

touch, drove the lane and made a pull-up jumper to reduce Cascade's deficit to

46-44.

The 6-foot-6 Burks responded by muscling in a basket from in close. He

was fouled and made the free throw for a 49-42 lead with 4:15 remaining.

Brian Troyer scored on a fastbreak lay-up from a long pass from Gard for

a nine-point lead for Greencastle.

After Pusateri scored for Cascade, Gard drove to the basket for a

swoop-shot lay-up and was fouled. He completed the three-point lead and the Tiger Cubs were in command, 54-44, with 2:30 remaining.

Greencastle shot 50 percent from the field (24-for-48), including 4-of-8 on

three-pointers, and were 6-of-9 from the foul line. The Tiger Cubs' zone defense kept pressure on the Cadets' 3-point shooters, holding them to 3-of-15 and 23-of-52 overall.

Cascade 12 10 13 15--50

Greencastle 21 9 12 14--58

Cascade -- Austin 2-3 1-2 5, Foster 3-6 0-1 7, Pusateri 10-15 0-0 20, Daugherty

3-11 0-0 7, Suter 2-9 0-0 5, Galyan 1-1 0-0 2, Lovvorn 2-7 0-0 4, Totals

23-52 FG, 1-3 FT, 50 TP.

Greencastle -- Fenlon 2-5 0-0 4, Remsburg 2-4 0-0 5, Burks 7-13 1-1 16, Gard

9-15 4-4 23, Richardson 0-2 0-0 0, Troyer 3-6 1-2 7, Burgeson 1-2 0-0 3, Faust

0-1 0-2 0, Totals 24-48 FG, 6-9 FT, 58 TP.

3-pt. FG -- Cascade 3-15 (Foster 1-2, Suter 1-4, Daugherty 1-6, Austin 0-1,

Lovvorn 0-2), Greencastle 4-8 (Burgeson 1-1, Burks 1-1, Gard 1-2, Remsburg 1-3, Richardson 0-1). Rebounds: Cascade 27 (Pusateri 9), Greencastle 23 (Burks 9). Blocked shots -- Greencastle 1 (Burgeson). Assists -- Cascade 5 (Daugherty 2), Greencastle 6 (Gard 3, Richardson 3), Turnovers -- Cascade 9, Greencastle 8. Total Fouls -- Cascade 11, Greencastle 8. Fouled out -- None.

Next game -- Greencastle hosts North Putnam Friay at 7:30 p.m.