Tiger Cubs rebound for win over Eagles

Saturday, January 15, 2011
Greencastle's Chelsea Samuels puts up two of her game-high 22 points in Friday's contest against South Putnam.

GREENCASTLE -- Greencastle came into Friday night's contest with South Putnam looking to get on the winning side of things once again. The Lady Tiger Cubs capitalized on a 21-3 first quarter lead and went on to win 66-33.

Greencastle was able to gain their advantage due to an eight-point outburst from Mallory Miller and six from Chelsea Samuels in the first quarter. Each of the GHS starters scored in the opening quarter and continued their efforts into the second quarter.

Samuels added eight more points it the second period, while Miller added three. As the Tiger Cubs continued to build their lead, South Putnam began to gain its footing.

After a slow start to the contest, the Eagles were able to establish themselves and get their offense flowing. The points were scarce, but the Eagles were able to run their offense and work to get open looks. However, the bad start is something head coach Debbie Steffy said they need to improve on.

"We did," she said of the slow start. "The few things we had worked on this week in terms of trying to make sure knew where Miller was, we let her loose for a three right there at the beginning, and then we gave up an offensive board and put them on the foul line -- and it just went downhill from there. We didn't block out well.

"Some things I was proud of our kids," she continued. "I thought we did a decent job, compared to the rest of our season, of trying to keep dribble penetration out of the middle of the lane, trying to make them do things from the outside.

"There were times when they got it in there, but for the most part we tried to keep that out. Our post players did play better tonight than I think we have in the past too and we really concentrated on that this week," she said.

Greencastle went to the break up 38-13 and the opening half offensive aggressiveness his team displayed had GHS head coach Bradley Key very pleased.

"I thought we did a good job of coming out and getting after it," Key said. "We got out to a good lead. We talked a lot about making the extra pass. We need to do a better job of finishing down low and I thought we did do a good job of getting the ball to Chelsea and then when people collapsed, kick it out to Mallory.

"Mallory started off hot, I think she had 13 the first half or so, and that was definitely good to see. Alyssa Nichols played another great game... another great game of distributing the basketball," Key said.

In the second half, South Putnam played the Tiger Cubs much closer, but GHS was able to find open looks, extend its lead and ultimately come away with the win.

In the third quarter, it was Samuels leading the way yet again with seven points. Greencastle outscored the Eagles 13-7, but South Putnam was able to come back in the final stanza and allow the Tiger Cubs to outscored them by just two at 15-13.

Samuels led all scorers with 22 points, followed by Miller with 17 and Nichols with 11. South Putnam was led by Jenna Jones with nine and Ericka Minor and Kelsey Searles with seven each.

For Steffy the biggest thing her team needs to do a better job of his getting off to a better start.

"We have to get off to a better start. We talked about that after the game," she said.

She explained that getting down so big so early is demoralizing and tough to dig yourself out of. Steffy said after giving up a big first quarter, the Eagles essentially played the Tiger Cubs even and she was pleased with that.

The Tiger Cubs entered the game on a two-game skid and Key said it was nice to get a big win following the weekend his team had.

"It was good especially after that weekend, it was a tough weekend, but we went back to basics and worked more on defense and taking care of the ball. As time goes forward, that's what we're going to need to work on as well," he said.

He also noted something his team needs to focus on is not committing silly fouls. He said players need to do a better job of gaining good position and not picking up fouls when they don't need to. He said it's something the team will focus on during practice.

Greencastle will travel to Cascade next Friday, while South Putnam will host Monrovia. Both games will begin at 6 p.m.

At Greencastle

South Putnam 3 10 7 13 -- 33

Greencastle 21 17 13 15 -- 66

Individual Stats

South Putnam -- Jones 9, Minor 7, Searles 7, Whitaker 4, Masters 2, McHugh 2, Comer 1, Cash 1. Totals: 10-48 FG, 12-22 FT, 33 TP.

Greencastle -- Samuels 22, Miller 17, Nichols 11, Pruitt 8, Wainman 5, White 2, Basile 2. Totals: 27-49 FG, 10-16 FT, 66 TP.