Tiger Cubs lose late at Brown County

Greencastle sophomore Anthony Mitchell fires a pass down the baseline at Brown County. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

NASHVILLE -- Coming off a loss to Monrovia Friday night, Greencastle's boys' basketball squad made the long trip to Brown County Saturday looking to find a way into the win column.

In a game in which the largest lead was seven, the Tiger Cubs held the lead for most of the second half until a shooting surge from the Eagles, free throws and a missed buzzer-beater saw the hosts claim a 48-46 victory.

Greencastle started out with a 6-4 lead after a pair of three-point baskets by junior Holden King and senior Nate Christy.

The hosts took the lead on the back of long jump shots, though a three from sophomore Brody Bollman kept the score tight with Brown County leading 13-11 at the end of the first period.

After the Eagles hit the opening basket of the second quarter, Greencastle went on an 11-0 run on the back of two Colyn Foxx threes and a pair of baskets from sophomore Adam Gerard.

Leading 22-15, the Tiger Cubs gave up two late baskets to go into halftime leading 22-19.

While Greencastle won the battle on the boards, five turnovers negated many chances the visitors might have had in the third quarter.

The seven-point lead was held for most of the period until Brown County scored the last six points of the third quarter to close the gap to 32-31 heading into the final quarter.

A pair of Lane Winslow baskets and two free throws from senior Nick Gilliam extended the lead back to five for the Tiger Cubs, but the lead would not last for long.

Steven Norman refused to let the Eagles go down without a fight and knocked down three long distance jump shots to drag Brown County back into the game.

A pair of Norman free throws eventually gave the hosts a 42-41 lead. Gilliam hit one-of-two free throws before Norman knocked down yet another long-range jumper to give the Eagles a 44-42 lead.

Brayden Crosby hit two free throws to extend the lead to four before Winslow cut the deficit in half with a layup.

Tony Goral hit two more free throws before Winslow again cut the deficit in half with a shot to leave the score at 48-46.

Goral was fouled but missed both free throws, giving Greencastle a chance to tie or win the game, but King's three-point shot hit the back of the iron and Bollman could not get a shot up before time expired and Brown County won its fourth game of the season.

Greencastle head coach Troy Greenlee felt that the game turned on the late Eagles' baskets before halftime.

"A lot of people will look at this game and think that they lost the game at the end when they didn't hit that shot, but I told the guys I thought we lost the game at the end of the first half," Greenlee said. "When we were up by seven, we didn't have the urgency we needed to keep that lead or even extend it going into the half. I thought that was a big key.

"We allowed them to get to within three going into halftime with the ball with the ball.

"I thought our kids fought. Defensively, we were better tonight than we were last night. Offensively, it's about making plays and toward the end, Brown County made a couple more plays than we did."

Greenlee's biggest takeaway from the game, though, was that the squad saw yet again what it would need to do at the end of the season.

"This is a sectional opponent," Greenlee said. "This 48-46 score is a lot like other games we've seen against the other teams in the sectional.

"What we have to keep in mind is that we have to use these next few games to prepare for the sectional. It's going to be an open sectional and whoever is playing the best at that time will win.

"We have the type of guys who are willing to come in, work as hard as they can and be ready by the sectional."

At Brown County
Greencastle 11 11 10 14 -- 46
Brown County 13 6 12 17 -- 48