Menu
Shuee’s heroics pace Cubs past THS
TERRE HAUTE — For the first 31:52 of Wednesday night’s girls’ basketball game at Terre Haute South, Bailey Shuee’s statistical contributions were minimal.
But the Greencastle senior saved the day for her team with two huge plays in the final eight seconds as the Tiger Cubs pulled out a 64-63 victory.
Greencastle led for most of the game, before the Braves used a 23-11 advantage in the third period to pull out to a 47-41 lead.
The Cubs battled back in the final period, and a Claire Gillen basket with 3:39 left tied the game at 54-54.
After falling behind by two points, Greencastle ripped off seven straight on a Gillen basket, an Allison Stevens basket, a Mia Shields free throw and two more free throws from Stevens to go up 61-56 with 40.7 seconds left.
South standout senior guard Amani Brown quickly cut into that lead with a pair of free throws and a basket, and Greencsatle led only 61-60 with 18 seconds left.
Greencastle’s Seelye Stoffregen was fouled with 10.2 seconds left and hit the first of two shots in a double-bonus situation.
Stoffregen missed the second shot, but Shuee grabbed the rebound and was immediately fouled with 7.6 seconds to go. Shuee calmly dropped both free throws for a 64-60 lead.
It was a good thing she did, because Brown hit a 30-footer at the buzzer.
“What won the game for us was that play,” Greencastle coach Tod Windlan said of Shuee’s offensive rebound. “And for her to step up there and make those free throws was clutch. That’s what competitors and seniors can do for you.”
The Greencastle seniors definitely had their hand in this victory, as Gillen led her team in scoring with 18 points and in rebounding with 12.
Stoffregen had a key layup in the fourth quarter in addition to her late free throw, and the Tiger Cubs were able to win without their other senior — Jalyn Duff, the team’s second-leading scorer who missed the game due to illness.
“It is huge to win without J,” Windlan said. “It’s like a football team losing its quarterback. She’s your leader and the one who gets you into stuff [offensively].
“Seelye stepped in for her really well at the point, and Mia was really good in the first half as well.”
The first quarter was played evenly, tied 14-14 at its conclusion, but Mia Shields hit a pair of treys in the second period — one on the last shot of the half — to help boost the Cubs to a 30-24 halftime lead.
South got scoring from seven different players in the third period in taking its big lead, and nine Greencastle turnovers in the quarter limited what the Tiger Cubs could do offensively.
Greencastle placed four players in double figures, with Mia Shields adding 17 and Stevens and Ella Shields each chipping in with 11.
Brown paced all scorers with 28 points, but was the only Brave in double figures.
One of the few facets of the game which didn’t please Windlan was the number of times that Terre Haute South — shorter at nearly every position on the court — was able to get offensive rebounds and putbacks.
“That definitely hurt us, but in the fourth quarter I really lit into them about that,” he said. “After that point, we didn’t give up another one and we got two or three ourselves. Rebounding is about heart and positioning.”
Windlan noted that Shuee, not one of Greencastle’s taller players, used one simple but underused technique to get the final rebound of the game.
“She just wanted the ball more than anyone else,” he said.
Windlan was especially impressed with how his team responded after such a long layoff, compared to Terre Haute South’s much busier holiday schedule.
“We hadn’t played since Dec. 18, and they’ve played five games since then,” he said. “That makes a huge difference, but our girls handled it well. We actually needed the time off to get well.”
In the end, though, Windlan was happy with how his team fought through everything.
“We found a way to win, and that’s what it’s all about,” he said. “I’m really proud of them.”
The Tiger Cubs are now 10-5 on the season, and will look to assume sole possession of first place in the Western Indiana Conference’s West Division with a win at Northview tonight.
“It’s a huge game,” Windlan said. “It’s a conference game on the road, and you’re playing for first place. We want to go there and win, and take care of business against North Putnam, and win our division.”
Windlan’s first year in Greencastle has been filled with injuries to just about every player, and he has yet to have his entire top eight rotation players healthy and available in the same game despite the season rapidly approaching its conclusion.
“If we can ever get everyone healthy at the same time, it could be fun,” he said.
GREENCASTLE (64) — Stevens 3-8 5-9 11, Gillen 7-11 4-7 18, E.Shields 2-9 6-8 11, M.Shields 6-9 1-2 17, Stoffregen 1-3 1-2 3, Shuee 0-0 2-2 2, Rodgers 1-1 0-0 2, Doan 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 20-42 FG, 21-31 FT, 64 TP
TERRE HAUTE SOUTH (63) — Brown 12-17 2-3 28, Hatfield 2-10 3-5 7, Pepperworth 2-9 0-1 6, Dillion 1-2 0-0 2, Cox 3-4 1-1 7, Padgett 0-2 2-2 2, Edinburgh 3-7 0-1 6, Shipley 2-6 0-0 5. Totals 25-57 FG, 8-13 FT, 63 TP
| Greencastle | 14 | 16 | 11 | 23 | — | 64 |
| T.H. South | 14 | 10 | 23 | 16 | — | 63 |
3-point shooting — Greencastle 5-11 (Stevens 0-1, E.Shields 1-2, M.Shjields 4-6, Stoffregen 0-2).Turnovers — Greencastle 14, THS 10.