SOUTHMONT GIRLS' BASKETBALL REGIONAL: Greencastle rolls past Union County for second-ever regional title
NEW MARKET – The Greencastle train keeps rolling right along.
As part of the second game at the IHSAA Girls’ Basketball Southmont Regional, the Tiger Cubs took on Union County, building up a 19-point lead by halftime and withstanding the inevitable Patriot rally to claim the school’s second regional title in the sport with a 58-38 win.
“The big key to the game was that we were in the bonus and the double bonus and we made those free throws,” Greencastle head coach Doug Greenlee said. “We had some big threes when we needed them and it was the same ol’ story for these Greencastle Tiger Cubs.
“This makes 15 wins in-a-row and this was a big one.”
Gloria Brewer opened the scoring right away with a drive to the rim and a free throw from Emma Hunter made it 3-0 Greencastle (23-4) early.
Shelby Hill scored at the rim and matched a Brewer jumper to leave the score at 5-4 near the midway point of the period as Union County (16-10) stuck to its deliberate offensive gameplan.
A twisting Brewer drive was followed by threes from Hunter and Ali Dobbs as the Tiger Cubs took a 13-4 lead into the second quarter.
Madi Plew scored on a putback and Brewer added another basket at the rim to complete a 12-0 run that was broken by two Ally Gray free throws.
Hunter would score the next seven points herself while Brewer hit a jumper to stretch the lead to 20 at 26-6.
Hill converted a late three-point play and Brewer turned the ball over as the half was coming to a close, only to steal the following inbounds pass and hit a jumper for a 28-9 lead heading into the break.
“The girls did a good job of cutting off the dribble-penetration in the first half,” Greenlee said about keeping the Patriots in the single digits in the first half. “We did a lot of good things and I’m really proud of their effort.
“One-and-done is never easy and we were pretty happy with the first half.”
After connecting on just three field goals in the first half, Union County matched that total in the first 2:30 of the third quarter as Hill, Gray and Carly McCashland all connected from the field.
Hill added a putback but Evie Briones entered the scoring log with a three to make it 33-17.
McCashland and sister Katie added baskets, the latter hitting a three, but Briones answered back with two more threes that made it 39-24.
The Patriots were given a reprieve at the end of the quarter as a three from Brooke Fields turned into three free throws after a foul on the attempt, all of which went in as Union County trailed 39-27 with eight minutes remaining.
“We weren’t stopping the dribble-penetration in the second half,” Greenlee said about the third quarter. “We went to the 1-3-1 and (Union County) hit a three as we weren’t organized.”
Katie McCashland made it a 10-point game with the first basket of the final quarter which Brewer answered.
Hill added a free throw and a jumper which, paired with a Carly McCashland drive, brought the deficit to single digits at 43-34.
It was as close as the Patriots would get as Brewer and Hunter knocked down six free throws to negate a Katie McCashland three and Hill free throw.
The Tiger Cubs proceeded to slam the door shut from there as Hunter scored twice around a Briones three and Brewer made two final free throws to bring the school’s second regional title back to McAnally Center.
“It’s been 43 years since the 1980 team won a regional,” Greenlee noted. “It’s great and we’re so happy to be playing next week.
“We’re not done yet. We’re looking forward to the semistate.”
Greencastle | 13 | 15 | 11 | 19 | 58 |
Union County | 4 | 5 | 18 | 11 | 38 |
Scoring
Greencastle (13-24 2FG; 7-16 3FG; 11-13 FT) — Brewer 22, Hunter 17, Briones 12, Plew 4, Dobbs 3
Union County (12-29 2FG; 2-14 3FG; 8-12FT) — Hill 15, K. McCashland 10, Fields 5, C. McCashland 4, Gray 4
Statistics
… | Greencastle | Union County |
Rebounds | 18 | 14 |
Off. Rebounds | 3 | 8 |
Assists | 9 | 7 |
Steals | 14 | 9 |
Turnovers | 16 | 20 |
Fouls | 14 | 14 |
Blocks | 6 | 1 |