Tiger Cubs get over slow start to down Vikings

WEST TERRE HAUTE – The Greencastle girls’ basketball team started a Western Indiana Conference road weekend at West Vigo Friday night and was able to defeat the Vikings 51-38.

The Tiger Cubs may not get style points for the win, but a WIC victory keeps them undefeated in conference play with a showdown coming Saturday night at Indian Creek.

“It might not have been the best game for sight, but our kids played hard and we got a win in a tough place to play,” Greencastle head coach Doug Greenlee said. The head coach knew how tough it was to play in that gym as he refereed his first varsity game in the “Green Dome” in 1980.

The Tiger Cubs forced the Vikings into several turnovers on the night as they were able to overcome the Vikings keeping the pace of play slower unlike what the Cubs want to do. The Cubs relied on the one-two punch of Emma Hunter and Gloria Brewer for their scoring. The two combined for 43 of the Cubs 51 points as Greencastle improved to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the conference. The Vikings dropped to 3-5 with a 1-2 WIC record.

“We struggled to speed them up and play where we wanted to, but eventually we got it going,” Greenlee said.

The first quarter was certainly offensively challenged by both teams as the Cubs shot just 2-of-14 from the field in scoring six points, but West Vigo was only able to better them by one point as they turned the ball over six times and got just six field goal attempts.

West Vigo led 7-6 after that first period. Greencastle’s offense struggled but Stephanie Morales sparked the team at the front of the halfcourt trap and pulled down five rebounds in the quarter.

“She (Morales) was really big for us. She got some rebounds and really played well at the top of the trap,” Greenlee said.

Hunter took advantage of the defensive focus on Brewer in the second quarter. The senior scored both inside and out as she put up 13 points, including knocking down three treys in the quarter.

The Cubs would need that offense as 30 point a game scorer, Brewer, was limited to just three first half points on 1-of-10 shooting by the tough Viking defense. Hunter’s offense kept the Tiger Cubs in the lead at the break, 23-21.

Greencastle was able to start to separate from the Vikings after halftime. Brewer scored seven of the first nine points for the Cubs in the third quarter as she would finish the quarter with 11 points and the Cubs were able to turn the two-point lead into a nine-point advantage heading into the last stanza.

West Vigo was rallying behind Katelyn Fennel as she scored five quick points in the quarter, but the Tiger Cubs made a change in defensive strategy and put Brewer on the Vikings leading scorer with about six minutes left and the Cubs would hold her scoreless for the remainder of the game. The Cubs would slowly extend their lead throughout the quarter to set the final margin at 51-38.

“She (Brewer) wanted to guard her and our assistant coaches were making that suggestion at the same time. She did a good job,” Greenlee said.

Hunter would lead the Cubs with 22 points, while Brewer added 21 and 11 rebounds. Fennell would pace the Vikings with 14 points.

Greencastle’s matchup with Class 3A No. 3 Indian Creek on Saturday will have Western Indiana Conference title implications with both teams being undefeated in conference action.

GREENCASTLE (51) – Brewer 8-21 4-5 21, Briones 1-6 0-0 2, Hunter 8-20 2-2 22, Dobbs 2-3 0-0 5, Morales 0-3 0-0 0, Plew 0-3 1-4 1, Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Brown 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-58 FG, 7-11 FT, 51 TP.

WEST VIGO (38) – Marrs 0-8 2-2 2, Knopp 2-4 0-0 5, Ramirez 2-4 0-1 4, Lesecki 1-1 0-0 3, Fennell 5-10 2-2 14, Griffin 1-1 0-0 2, Stepp 3-6 1-2 8, Stark 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 14-35 FG, 5-9 FT, 38 TP.

3-point shooting – GHS 6-18 (Brewer 1-6, Briones 0-3, Hunter 4-8, Dobbs 1-1), WV 5-13 (Marrs 0-3, Knopp 1-2, Lesecki 1-1, Fennell 2-5, Stepp 1-2). Rebounds – GHS 36 (Brewer 11, Briones 3, Hunter 7, Dobbs 3, Morales 6, Plew 3, Johnson 2) WV – 29 (Marrs 5, Knopp 3, Ramirez 3, Lesecki 1, Fennell 6, Stepp 5) FG Pct. – GHS 32.8, WV 40.0. FT Pct. – GHS 63.6, WV 55.6. Turnovers – GHS 9, WV 20.