Tiger Cubs vacation comes to halt against Danville

Saturday, December 29, 2012
Greencastle sophomore Brody Bollman drives in for a layup, fending off Danville defender B'ster Detty. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

The young Greencastle boys' basketball team continues to take steps toward improving, but they're not ready yet and that showed against Danville in the 71-49 loss on Friday at McAnally.

The Tiger Cubs (1-6) played their first game in 13 days and, despite the loss, changes were evident.

"I do think we're seeing improvement as a team, even though the scoreboard may not show it," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee said. "You hate to say you're satisfied with losing a game like this, but as we are, we have to do that. We have to look at where we are and where we were and compare.

"I think we're getting better."

GHS began the game struggling against the fast and aggressive Danville (8-1) defense.

The Warriors converted their first six shots to open the game, mostly fast break layups coming off turnovers.

Danville senior Ian Asher led the early attack, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.

The Tiger Cubs guards began to figure out the pressure, in the second quarter, but Danville found scoring just as easy in their half-court offense.

"They're a really good team and we knew they were a really good team," Greenlee said. "They're such a tough team to guard because they have the perimeter shooters, they can drive the ball well and they have just enough post presence to make it hard."

Greencastle came out sharp after halftime before surrendering a 9-0 run to end the third quarter.

Danville fed senior Jackson Stone in the post throughout the half and the shorter GHS front line couldn't prevent him from getting the ball deep under the hoop for easy lay-ins.

Stone finished with 17 points.

As the Warriors continued to get easy shots, the Tiger Cubs continued to shoot from the outside.

It was only after fouls began to pile up for Danville that GHS started to get into a rhythm.

The Warriors were called for 14 fouls in the second half, and the Cubs made seven-of-11 free throws in the fourth, but by then it was too little, too late.

"We knew it would be a tough game for us if we didn't do the things we talked about before the game, like taking care of the ball," Greenlee said. "We're not where we want to be, but I think we're taking some steps forward."

Freshman Ryan Coble and senior Nick Gilliam each scored seven points to lead the Tiger Cubs.

GHS hosts Speedway on Friday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.



At Greencastle
Danville 17 19 19 16 -- 71
Greencastle 5 18 12 14 -- 49

Individual scoring
Danville: Asher 8-14, 3-3, 21; Stone 8-9, 1-3, 17; Motes 4-8, 0-0, 10; Just 3-4, 3-4, 9; Amore 3-4, 1-2, 8; Detty 1-2, 2-2, 4; Ross 0-1, 2-2, 2; Collier 1-1, 0-0, 2; Shipley 0-1, 0-0, 0; Weir 0-1, 0-2, 0; Anderson 0-0, 0-0, 0.
Greencastle: Coble 3-6, 1-2, 7; Gilliam 2-7, 2-3, 7; Winslow 3-9, 0-0, 6; Gerard 2-6, 1-2, 6; Mitchell 1-2, 3-5, 5; Foxx 1-3, 2-3, 4; Christy 1-3, 0-0, 3; Bollman 1-6, 1-1, 3; King 1-2, 0-0, 3; Hughes 1-2, 0-0, 3.

Team scoring (three-pointers)
Danville 28-45 (5-12), 10-16, 71; Greencastle 16-45 (7-17), 10-17, 49.

Rebounds (offensive)
Danville 30 (7), Greencastle 28 (12)

Turnovers
Danville 15, Greencastle 21

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