Danville overpowers Tiger Cubs

After winning two of their last three games, the Greencastle boys' basketball team was back in action Thursday night against the Danville Warriors.

The Tiger Cubs suffered a 73-67 defeat and fell to a 5-10 record with little less than a month left in the regular season.

Greencastle did not get off to a very good start.

The Warriors outscored the Tiger Cubs 23-8 in the first quarter. Nick Hutcheson put up six of those points for Greencastle and Ashton Marshall knocked down two free throws.

Marshall then scored first in the second quarter. Griffin Moore knocked down a three and then Kyle Harlan scored the last six points of the quarter for the Tiger Cubs.

Six different players for Danville put up 12 points for the Warriors in the second quarter. At halftime the score was Danville 35 and Greencastle 19.

The Tiger Cubs tried to turn the game around in the third quarter.

They were able to outscore the Warriors 24-11 and by the end of the quarter had narrowed the Warriors lead to three, 46-43.

Jordan Hickam started the comeback with a two pointer, followed by repeated baskets by Hutcheson, Marshall, and Wade Huber.

"I was pleased with the way our kids battled when they got down," said Greencastle head coach Troy Greenlee. "We got down by 16 at halftime and notoriously this season we've struggled in the third quarter. But it ended up being our best quarter tonight because we came out and really competed."

The Warriors charged back in the fourth quarter, though. Justin Bartrum scored a basket for Greencastle 1:57 into the quarter and Hickam made two free throws, Greencastle did not score for the next 3:03. Instead they watched Danville put up 12 points. Then Hickam scored again with a regular basket and Moore knocked down back-to-back threes.

Hickam also made a three after Marshall shot two from the foul line making both. Marshall got a three of his own with 0.7 left to play. Danville put up 9 points in the meantime.

"I don't know if we can ever be satisfied with a loss . . . (But) I thought we competed pretty well. Obviously (Danville) has very good player in Travis Carroll and . . .(his teammates play). . . their roles very very well, so it makes it difficult to guard them, but again our kids didn't give up and I'm proud of them for that.

"I thought our team effort was pretty good. I thought Nick (Hutcheson), for being a freshman, did a good job of battling a kid who is a Division I player (Carroll)."

Carroll , who will play basketball for Purdue University next year, had 12 points for the Warriors, all in the first three quarters, and was outscored by teammates Hall (18) and Humphrey (15) and Tiger Cub Marshall, who had 19 for the evening.

"We have to take this loss and build on it" said Greenlee. " This is a very similar type team that we'll have to face in the sectionals."

Next up for the Tiger Cubs is a JV/varsity home contest against Northview Tuesday starting at 6 p.m.

Box Score

At Greencastle

Greencastle 8 11 24 24 -- 67

Danville 23 12 11 27 -- 73

Greencastle -- Hutcheson (12), Marshall (19), G. Moore (9), Harlan (6), Hickam (9), Huber (8), Bartrum (2), Shuee (2)

Danville -- Hall (18), Rigdon (12), Carroll (12), Mackey (5), Humphrey (15), Doub (2), Mabbitt (5), Birchler (4)