GHS boys get share of WCC

Assistant Editor

MONROVIA -- A combination of patience, a hot start and deadly accuracy led the Greencastle High School boys' basketball team to its ninth win of the season on Friday, a 72-56 shallacking of Monrovia on the road.

The deadly accuracy came courtesy of junior Zac Remsburg, who finished with 24 points off the bench.

Remsburg led the Tiger Cubs in scoring Friday and led the GHS bench, which finished with 36 points in the victory. Drew Evens added 10 points off the bench, to go along with seven rebounds.

"That's great," Greencastle coach Troy Greenlee said. "I don't remember a game where we had that many points off the bench.

"We feel when we get (Remsburg and Evens) in the game, it gives us a lift."

More importantly, the win guaranteed at least a share of the West Central Conference championship, something Greenlee said was a first for the Tiger Cubs since 1988.

"I think it's huge," he siad. "We talk about winning championships. (The kids are) pretty happy."

The Tiger Cubs got off to a hot start at the begining of the contest, shooting 8-for-18 from the field in the first quarter while taking an 18-13 lead.

"I think a key in any game is a hot start," Greenlee said. "We wanted to get transition baskets. If we didn't, we wanted them to defend."

Greenlcastle extended its lead to 12, 30-18, midway through the second period thanks to two free throws by Austin Miller.

The Tiger Cubs maintained a double-digit lead throughout the majority of the period, but the Bulldogs cut the lead to seven with 1:52 left before halftime after Damon Speck connected from the charity stripe.

However, a bucket by Remsburg pulled Greencastle ahead by nine and another from Michael Richardson with two seconds remaining before halftime kept GHS up by nine, 37-28.

The Bulldogs, however, managed a come back at the beginning of the third period, pulling within two, but back-to-back three-pointers from Evens and Remsburg pushed the Tiger Cubs back up by 10, 46-36, forcing a Monrovia timeout.

Remsburg added another three-pointer following a bucket by Monrovia's Eric Sampson and after another Bulldog basket, Evens hit a jumper, pulling Greencastle ahead by 10.

Thanks to two free throws from Erick Burgeson, the Tiger Cubs led, 52-40, through three quarters of action.

Greenlee said he was not pleased with how his squad came out of the locker room to start the third quarter.

"We've got to do a better job coming out in the second half," he said.

Greencastle spent the majority of the fourth period on the free throw line, connecting on 17 shots from the line en route to the win.

For the game, the Tiger Cubs were 22-for-23 from the free throw line.

"The only way they could get back in the game was if we missed our free throws, and we didn't," Greenlee said. "The kids stepped up."

In addition to Remsburg's 24 points, Greencastle got 14 points and five boards from Brennan Burks while Richardson added 10, including 8-for-8 from the line. Richardson and Burgeson also dished out four assists each.

The Tiger Cubs (9-8 overall, 5-1) face Brown County on the road today.

At Monrovia

Greencastle 18 19 15 20 -- 72

Monrovia 13 15 12 16 -- 56

Greencastle -- Burks 5-13 4-4 14, Burgeson 2-5 2-2 7, Richardson 1-1 8-8 10, Faust 1-6 0-0 3, Smiley 1-2 0-0 2, Remsburg 7-12 6-7 24, Evens 4-7 0-0 10, Miller 0-1 2-2 2, Nobles 0-0 0-0 0, Walker 0-0 0-0 0, Bartrum 0-0 0-0 0, Marshall 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-47 FG, 22-23 FT, 72 TP.

Monrovia -- Grismore 3-9 2-5 8, Smith 4-15 1-1 10, Speck 7-14 4-4 18, Sampson 2-5 2-2 6, Palka 4-10 3-3 11, Martin 1-2 0-0 3, Dirlam 0-0 0-0 0, Dillon 0-0 0-0 0, Benefiel 0-0 0-0 0, Steward 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-55 FG, 12-15 FT, 56 TP.

3-pt. FG -- GHS 8-18 (Remsburg 4-8), MHS 2-16 (Martin 1-1). Rebounds -- GHS 26 (Evens 7), MHS 23 (Smith, Sampson 6). Blocks -- GHS 1 (Burks), MHS 4 (Grismore 4). Assists -- GHS 12 (Burgeson, Richardson 4), MHS 8 (Smith 3). Steals -- GHS 3 (Burgeson, Richardson, Faust), MHS 8 (Speck 6). Total Fouls -- GHS 18, MHS 20. Fouled Out -- Sampson (MHS). Turnovers -- GHS 17, MHS 18.

Next Game -- The Tiger Cubs (9-8, 5-1) face Brown County on the road today.