Greencastle's eighth-grade boys win county title

Friday, January 16, 2015
The Greencastle eighth-grade boys' basketball team took the County Championship Wednesday. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

CLOVERDALE--A last-second shot, from long distance ended the eighth-grade Putnam County boys' basketball championship and earned Greencastle the 25-24 win over South Putnam.

The game started on even footing. Greencastle scored the first five points, thanks to a bucket by each Alex Costin and Trey Wood. Gavin Bollman added a free throw.

Thomas Fanning of South Putnam then made a basket and that was followed by a three for South Putnam courtesy of Austin Arnold.

Andrew York of Greencastle makes a move to the paint. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

"I'm excited by the way they played tonight," Eagle coach Brian Gardener said. "It takes kids that are willing to do the right thing. We have a bunch of kids that do that. Along the way, they need to buy into what we are doing. They've done that all-year long."

Into the second quarter the close battle continued. South Putnam's Ty VanSickle, Allen Plunkett and Arnold all made baskets with Plunkett adding a foul shot.

The seven second-quarter points by the Eagles gave them the halftime lead as Greencastle only scored six with Bollman netting four and Creigh Remsburg with two.

Greencastle Jaxon Parmley tries to get by South Putnam's Allen Plunkett. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

The Eagles tried to pull away in the third, as they went on an 11-3 run.

Defense began to play a large part. Plunkett who led the Eagles with six boards also finished with six steals.

Lane Watson nailed a three and Dalton Scott made two free throws during the run. Scott also had five rebounds on the night.

With three seconds left on the clock Greencastle's Alex Costin drains a game-winning three. (Banner graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Down by 10 at the start of the fourth, Greencastle kicked its defense into high gear and began to work the inside game.

Wood, who had a game-high nine rebounds, was able to get to the foul line, making both, as was Bollman who went one-of-two twice at the foul line. Buckets from Costin and Bollman, who finished with seven rebounds, made the score 24-22 with South Putnam, who had only scored one free through, holding onto the dwindling lead with 8 seconds to go.

"For those boys to come back like that after being down in the third is incredible," Tiger Cub coach Phil Barker said. "That's what you strive for as a coach. That what you want from your players, to put forth the effort."

Costin shook off the defense of Austin Arnold for the open shot. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

After a timeout Greencastle needed to go about half the distance to the basket. The Tiger Cubs kicked it to Costin on the wing who had three seconds to make a decision and he decided to go for the win. After a ball fake to shake off the defense from Fanning, Costin rose up and nailed the game-winner.

Tiger Cub coach Phil Barker said this championship run has been long in the making.

"It started during the summer workouts with open gym and the coaching philosophy of (GHS boys' basketball coach) Troy Greenlee from the varsity level on down," Barker said.

Greencastle's Gavin Bollman gets his slice of the net. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

The coach said the staff has worked with the team to help mold the middle school players into the type of varsity players Greencastle needs.

"We're running the same plays and giving the same amount of effort in practice. We have the same practice schedules," Barker said. "That way when these boys step up to the next level they'll know what they are doing."

Alex (Mr. Clutch) Costin cuts down the net. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

At Cloverdale

Greencastle 5 6 3 11-25

South Putnam 5 7 11 1- 24

Greencastle's Trey Wood climbs the ladder for his slice of the championship net. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Individual Scoring

Greencastle: (9-38) Bollman 3-13 9 pts, 7 reb, 3 stl; Costin 3-10 7 pts, 8 reb, 3 stl; Wood 2-6 6 pts, 9 reb; Remsburg 1-4 1 reb, 1 stl, York 2 reb, 1 stl

South Putnam: (9-37) Plunkett 3-13 8 pts; 6 reb, 7 stl, 1 blk;VanSickle 2-6 5 pts, 2 reb; Arnold 2-3 5 pts, 2 reb, 2 stl; Watson 1-6 3 pts, 1 reb, Fanning 2 pts, 1 asst, 1 stl, 1 blk

Greencastle coaches Philip Barker and Douglas Davies celebrate the Putnam County title. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)
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  • Great game boys. Don't forget that we are still "One team, one dream."

    -- Posted by Woody7373 on Thu, Jan 15, 2015, at 2:50 PM
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