Tiger Cubs' fall to bigger Sullivan team

Greencastle's young boys' varsity basketball team experienced some growing pains Saturday night in a 59-32 loss to the visiting Sullivan Golden Arrows at McAnally Center.

A bigger, stronger and far more physical Sullivan team worked the ball inside all night, shooting 64 percent (25-39) from the floor and outrebounded Greencastle 32-19.

Greencastle, on the other hand, shot jut 27 percent (25-39) from the floor. The Tiger Cubs missed their first seven shots of the game and hit just one-of-11 shots in the opening quarter.

"I thought we started out the game well, we defended well, but we couldn't put the ball in the basket," Greencastle coach Troy Greenlee said. "We had open shots, we couldn't hit shots and then when (Sullivan) started getting on a roll, that's when the experience part really made it difficult for our guys to compete."

Sullivan (4-1), coming off its first loss of the season at Evansville North on Friday night, outscored Greencastle 20-9 in the second period to lead 26-11 at halftime. Sullivan led 46-18 going into the fourth quarter.

The Tiger Cubs hit five-of-12 three-point shot attempts for the night. Sophomores Colyn Foxx and Adam Gerard drained two threes each in the second half.

Greencastle, rebuilding after graduating nine players from a team that posted back-to-back winning records, started two sophomores, a junior and two seniors. Sullivan, with four juniors and a sophomore starting, had a strength advantage under the basket and out on the court.

"We've been in the weight room... I'd like to think that year, sophomore to junior year, you get a lot physically stronger," Greenlee said.

Greenlee talked to the Tiger Cubs about the long-term goal after the game.

"We say this, and even though it's a cliché, even though it was a tough game for us, this is going to help us in the long run. We've got a lot of young kids playing and they need to have experiences like this to grow. I told the guys in the locker room, we're going to find out who's in it when it's easy and who's in it when it's tough. And right now it's a little tough," Greenlee said.

Greencastle's junior varsity lost in overtime, 40-30. The score was tied 34-34 at the end of regulation play. Luke Brotherton led Greencastle with 10 points.

The Tiger Cubs return to action Dec. 15 at South Vermillion.

At Greencastle
Sullivan -- 6 20 20 13 -- 59
Greencastle -- 2 9 7 14 -- 32