Cloverdale wins season series with Greencastle for finals spot

The Cloverdale Clovers boys’ basketball team hit 11 three point shots, including five in the final quarter, to outlast the Greencastle Tiger Cubs in the first round of the Putnam County Classic 48-42.

The Clovers came out strong behind Kyle Thomas, jumping out to a quick 7-2 lead as both teams were very patient on offense. The Tiger Cubs went inside to Kiefer Wilson, who scored six of the eight points for the Cubs in the opening stanza. Greencastle would have a slim 8-7 advantage after one.

Cloverdale started the second strong as well, knocking down three from behind the arc and stretched the lead to eight at 18-10, Tayt Jackson hitting two of the early threes.

Greencastle would counter with Wilson and Cole Hutcheson to keep the game close. Two late free throws from McGuire Lee would give the Clovers a 20-14 lead at the half, as points were at a premium.

Greencastle fought back in the third quarter. Hutcheson would finally knock down a couple of threes for the Cubs. With 1:30 remaining in the quarter Tyler Rodgers would lay one up to tie the game at 25-25.

But a pattern started where, whenever Greencastle would take the lead, the Clovers would have an answer. Zach Thomas hit a big three late and gave Cloverdale a one point lead going to the final quarter at 29-28.

Zach Thomas opened the fourth with another three ball before a basket by Hutcheson and a three from Rodgers gave Greencastle the lead with just under six minutes remaining.

The teams then went back and forth. Jackson hit a pair of threes to keep the Clovers ever so slightly ahead. The second one would put Cloverdale up for good. Evan Alexander drained a three of his own to pull the Cubs back to within one but could not knock down anything else. Free throws from Brady Koosman would seal the victory 48-42.

“We are two equal teams, when you look at all three games, it’s a couple of possessions here and there,” Cloverdale coach Pat Rady said. “It was just a classic Cloverdale versus Greencastle game. We were fortunate to be on the smiling side of the scoreboard tonight.”

Hutcheson led the way for Greencastle on the night with 21 points, while Wilson added 10 points and six rebounds. The Cubs only turned the ball over five times on the night but will play in the 6 p.m. game Friday night.

“(Cloverdale) made plays down the stretch tonight and we didn’t. They hit shots when they had to. When you are going against a player the caliber of (Kyle) Thomas you give up some things to other guys and they knocked down the shots,” said Greencastle coach Bryce Rector.

The Clovers had three scorers in double figures. Jackson headed up the attack off the bench with 14 points. Kyle Thomas added 13 and Zach Thomas chipped in 12. Kyle grabbed five rebounds in the victory. They will head to the championship game Friday night to face North Putnam.

Team Stats

Individual Stats

Scoring - (CL) Jackson 14, K. Thomas 13, Z. Thomas 12, Koosman 5, Hilton 2, Lee 2; (G) Hutcheson 21, Wilson 10, Rodgers 5, Alexander 5, Adams 1

Rebounding (CL) K. Thomas 5, Lee 4, Jackson 3, Hilton 1, Koosman 1, Z. Thomas 1, Bridges 1; (G) Wilson 6, Miller 3, Rodgers 2, Hutcheson 2, Alexander 2, Adams 2