Brown (County) can do in the Tiger Cubs

Sunday, January 13, 2013
Greencastle sophomore Jessica Lenihan goes in for a layup against Brown County. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

NASHVILLE, Ind. -- Coming off a hard-fought win on Friday night, the Greencastle girls' basketball battled to the end before losing in the final minute at Brown County on Saturday, 49-45.

The Tiger Cubs were just hours removed from beating county-rival South Putnam when they made the long trip to Nashville and the crew came out flat in the first quarter, falling behind 17-12.

In a preview of things to come, junior Whitney Williamson and senior Sasha Robinson combined for 12 points in the frame.

The pair eventually finished with 37 of the team's 49.

"We knew going into it those were the two we had to stop, we just did not do a very good job," GHS coach Bradley Key said. "We did a good job on the initial series and made them shoot a low-percentage shot, but then we gave them that second chance."

The Cubs got back to their game in the second, picking up the tempo and crashing the boards.

The Eagles' duo combined for another 11 points, but GHS surrendered only two to the rest of the team and closed the gap to two points at the half, 30-28.

GHS outrebounded the hosts 21-12 in the first half and shot a very-solid 44.8 percent (13-for-29) from the field.

They also drew only five fouls, and got to the free throw line only once. The Tiger Cubs appeared bothered by the length of 6'0" Robinson and Williamson.

"They were able to block shots without having to foul," Key said. "We've got to understand that. You can't get your shot blocked five times and then wonder why you're not getting fouled. "

Robinson had four blocks and altered several other shots.

The two teams struggled in the third but GHS eventually got all the way back, taking a 39-38 lead with 5:35 left after a pair of free throws by sophomore Jessica Lenihan, the Tiger Cubs' leading scorer with 14.

That's when Robinson and Williamson took over. The pair scored 10 straight Eagle-points and dominated the paint and spurring an 11-4 run in the final few minutes.

Even when GHS got an initial stop, Williamson still found a way to score. She hauled in four offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter and finished with 18 rebounds in the game.

GHS senior Rayleigh Amis had 15 rebounds of her own, but it wasn't enough.

"We talked about (in the huddle), when the shot goes up, they only get one opportunity. It doesn't matter if you're playing Brown County or the state champions," Key said. "Hopefully this is a game we can learn from."

Key said playing back-to-back close games will help the team later in the year.

"It's never easy coming back after an exciting South Put victory, after an emotional high," he said, "but I like it to prepare for sectional. Hopefully we learn from this experience. We had a big game last night, that's fine, but we've got to rally back and play again.

"I think we're getting better."



At Brown County
Greencastle 12 16 7 10 -- 45
Brown County 17 13 6 13 -- 49

Individual scoring
GC: Lenihan 6-14 2-3 14, Taylor 4-11 0-0 8, Basile 3-12 0-0 7, Amis 2-4 0-0 4, T Stoltey 2-4 0-0 4, Earl 1-4 0-0 3, Bridgewater 1-4 0-0 3, Covert 1-4 0-2 2.
BC: Robinson 9-21 1-4 21, Williamson 8-11 0-0 16, Chapman 2-9 1-2 5, Wedan 1-11 0-0 3, Brady 1-6 0-2 2, Southerland 1-3 0-0 2.

Team scoring (three-pointers)
GC 20-59 (3-11) 2-6 45, BC 22-61 (3-16) 2-7 49.

Rebounds (offensive)
GC 43 (16), BC 36 (14).

Turnovers
GC 22, BC 15.

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