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Tiger Cubs struggle at line in fourth in loss
After falling behind early, the Greencastle girls' basketball team battled its way back before coming up short to Monrovia 45-40.
The Tiger Cubs struggled in the first half, but came out firing in the third quarter to tie the ball game up at 33-all. However, they faltered in the fourth quarter, struggling at the free throw line, allowing the Bulldogs to grab the win.
Head coach Bradley Key said his team has had issues with starting slow and then needing to battle its way back into games.
"That's kind of been our Achilles' heel, starting out slow and then battling back and then in the fourth quarter, having a problem closing it out," Key said. "A lot of that is free throws. I think we were 7-of-20 free throws and you just have to know you're going to step up to the line and hit them.
"I can't fault the girls' effort. I thought another game where we played hard. The third quarter we battled back because we hit shots and scoring the ball makes it a lot easier," Key said.
Both team entered the fourth knotted at 33-all, but Greencastle struggled at the line, converting just 5-of-12 in the fourth quarter, while the Bulldogs knocked down 8-of-12. Key also took responsibility for his team's play down the stretch.
"At the end I didn't do a very good job as a coach of getting our girls to get the ball to the right spot," Key said. "I told them at the end. I should have done a better job of being prepared in that fourth quarter. I think we had a six-point lead in the fourth quarter at one point and time and I called that timeout. Got to be able to finish games.
"Dress rehearsal is over and sectional is here. That's what we talk about all year, so we have to learn from that quickly and put it behind us because Tuesday we have Owen Valley and that's what we have to be focused on from this point on," Key added.
Monrovia got the win by outscoring the Tiger Cubs 6-1 down the stretch.
The opening quarter saw the Bulldogs jump out to a 17-10 lead. But Greencastle settled down and was able to keep pace with Monrovia, being outscored just 8-7. The teams entered the half with Monrovia leading 25-17.
The up and down play is something GHS has battled all season long, but Key was quick to point out that when they put four quarters together, they're a tough team to beat.
"We've had some good games for four quarters," Key said. "We beat a Tri-West team that's only lost to ranked opponents. We beat a pretty good Speedway team by shutting down one of the better players in the state. We have it in us, we just have to make sure we don't give up those easy shots, we get those rebounds and Tuesday night we have to put it all together. We know we have it in us.
"One thing I know about this team is they'll fight to the end. They did it tonight, but you have to knock down shots," he added.
Seniors Hannah Wainman, Taylor Pruitt and Erynn Beck were honored before the game in the regular season finale. Hannah Wainman and Taylor Pruitt combined for eight points in the first half, but were able to turn things around and put up 10 points each in the second half, with each scoring 14 in the game. Beck contributed three points on the night.
Greencastle will face the host Patriots at the Owen Valley Sectional Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
At Greencastle
Monrovia 17 8 8 12 -- 45
Greencastle 10 7 16 7 -- 40
Individual Scoring
Monrovia -- Smith 16, Knieper 8, Wright 9, Keen 3, Casteel 3, Kaiser 4,, Delph 2. Totals: 16-41 FG, 8-12 FT, 45 TP.
Greencastle -- Pruitt 14, Wainman 14, Basile 6, Beck 3, Amis 3. Totals: 13-46 FG, 7-10 FT, 40 TP.