Tiger Cubs fall to Patriots

The Greencastle Tiger Cubs struggled to shoot the ball on Tuesday night, and those struggles cost the Cubs an opportunity to pick up a win against the Owen Valley Patriots.

Greencastle fell to the Patriots 46-38 to drop to 8-13 on the season.

“We did not shoot it well,” Greencastle head coach Bryce Rector said. “They did a really good job of contesting shots. They made it difficult for us, but that being said. We have to have guys step up and make open shots that they are capable of making.”

The Cubs shot just 35 percent (15 of 43) from the floor. The shooting woes even showed up at the foul line as they hit just five of 10.

While Greencastle wasn’t making shots, the Patriots ran their patient offense to convert more than 50 percent (17 of 31).

The shot-making was never more evident than in the first quarter as the Tiger Cubs scored just four points in the period. Jack Hutcheson had a rebound basket and Nick Costin hit a jumper, but Greencastle missed 11 shots.

Owen Valley efficiently hit five of eight from the field and scored the last eight points of the quarter to take an 11-4 lead into the second quarter.

The second was eerily similar. Owen Valley again hit 5 of 8 from the field and posted its second straight 11-point quarter.

Greencastle improved only slightly. The Tiger Cubs couldn’t consistently get good shots or make the ones they had. The Cubs closed the gap to 13-11 on a Colin York trey with 5:43 left in the quarter, but didn’t score again until a Gavin Bollman layup with 1:09 left.

The Patriots led 22-13 at the intermission.

“[Owen Valley] got people where they wanted. We kind of set back and were not aggressive,” Rector said. “They are well-coached and they will be patient. They hit their shots.”

The Tiger Cubs wouldn’t go away. They methodically began to cut into the lead in the third quarter. Greencastle put together five points from York and a free throw from Nick Costin to cut the lead to 28-25 with a little over a minute to play, but would get no closer the rest of the way.

Michael Light hit a jumper for the Patriots at the buzzer to end the third quarter with a 30-25 lead.

Greencastle had its most prolific quarter scoring 13 points in the final stanza, but it wasn’t enough. York scored nine of his team-high 20 points in the final quarter, but the Cubs would get no closer that five points for the remainder of the game.

Owen Valley calmly held the ball looking for layups, and went to the free throw line 16 times in the quarter as Greencastle had to foul to try and lengthen the game in an attempt to rally. The Patriots hit nine of those free tosses and improved their record to 8-14.

York led the way for Greencastle with 20 points, but was the only Cub in double figures. Bollman pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds for Greencastle. Light led the Patriots with a game-high 25 points and Jonah Arthur added 11 for Owen Valley.

“I thought our energy and intensity was pitiful,” Rector said. “That is something that is concerning, but we have a week before the sectional. Hopefully, we can get that shored up. We have something to work on.”

Greencastle will have one more tune-up prior to its sectional matchup, hosting North Montgomery on Friday for Senior Night in the last regular-season game of the year.

OWEN VALLEY (46) – Herrington 3-5 2-5 8, Light 10-16 2-4 25, Wrightsman 0-0 0-1 0, Heckman 1-1 0-0 2, Arthur 3-8 5-6 11, N. Boyd 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-31 FG, 9-16 FT, 46 TP.

GREENCASTLE (38) – York 8-21 2-5 20, A. Costin 1-3 0-0 3, N. Costin 1-7 1-2 3, Hutcheson 1-2 0-0 2, Bollman 2-3 1-2 5, Clar 0-1 0-0 0, Matthews 1-4 0-0 2, Lucas 1-2 1-1 3. Totals 15-43 FG, 5-10 FT, 38 TP.

Owen Valley 11 11 8 16 – 46

Greencastle 4 9 12 13 – 38

3-point shooting – OV 3-10 (Light 3-8, Arthur 0-1, Boyd 0-1), GHS 3-14 (York 2-8, A. Costin 1-2, N. Costin 0-4). Rebounds – OV 21 (Herrington 2, Light 4, Wrightsman 2, Heckman 4, Arthur 7) GHS 27 (York 3, A. Costin 2, Hutcheson 3, Bollman 14, Matthews 4, Lucas 1) FG Pct. – OV 54.8, GHS 34.9. FT Pct. – OV 56.3, GHS 60.0. Turnovers – OV 7, GHS 8.