Fast start dissipates for Tiger Cubs as Mustangs pick up win

In most early season high school basketball games, there are struggles.

The girls’ game at McAnally Center between the Greencastle Tiger Cubs and the Edgewood Mustangs was a good example of that as Edgewood defeated the Cubs 38-24 on Friday night.

The two teams combined to shoot 24-of-95 for only 25.3 percent on the night. They struggled from the line as well, shooting under 50 percent 11-of-27. A rough second quarter for Greencastle led to the Mustang win.

Edgewood improved to 2-0 both overall and in the Western Indiana Conference. Greencastle dropped to 0-2 and 0-1 in the WIC.

“We just have to keep our heads up and keep going. They (girls) are going to have to learn to trust me, with me coming from the JV and being new. We will keep working,” first-year Greencastle head coach Jessica Lenihan said.

The Cubs started the game brilliantly. Edgewood opened the game with a three-pointer, but Greencastle scored the next 12 points. The post play of Bailey Brown and the driving game of Evie Briones paced the Cubs as they scored 10 of their team’s points. Greencastle led 12-5 at the first stop in the action.

“I told the girls that was an excellent first quarter. They really played well,” Lenihan said.

The wheels came off in the second quarter for Greencastle. The Cubs turned the ball over 13 times and their only points came on a Sarah Simmerman three-pointer as Edgewood took advantage of the miscues to take a 19-15 lead at halftime.

“We really struggled. We had some foul trouble, lost our point guard due to fouls and just didn’t play very well,” Lenihan said.

The Cubs corrected some of the turnover problems in the third quarter but went ice cold from the floor.

Greencastle hit just one field goal and one free throw in the period, while the Mustangs were able to stretch the lead to double digits at 30-18 as their defense stymied the Cubs’ offense.

Edgewood extended the lead to 36-19 in the fourth quarter and then the teams began to substitute freely as the Mustangs were able to finish the game and set the final score at 38-24.

Edgewood was led in scoring by Maddie Bland with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while her sister Ally chipped in with 10 points.

Brown was a force for Greencastle with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

“Bailey was really good and physical tonight. She is tough to handle in the post. We told the girls if you can see her numbers, get her the ball,” Lenihan said.

The Cubs will try and pick up their first win next Tuesday at Owen Valley in another conference game.

EDGEWOOD (38) – A. Bland 4-14 0-0 9, M. Bland 5-11 5-8 16, McElhinney 0-4 0-2 0, Holmes 2-3 0-0 4, Laroche 0-3 0-2 0, Burks 0-6 0-0 0, Wright 1-2 0-0 2, Whaley 1-5 1-2 3, Yearby 1-5 0-0 2, Norton 0-0 0-0 0, Edgemon 0-0 0-0 0, Austin 1-2 0-1 2, Murphy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-55 FG, 6-15 FT, 38 TP.

GREENCASTLE (24) – Dobbs 0-2 0-0 0, Briones 2-11 0-0 4, Plew 0-4 0-0 0, Johnson 1-5 0-0 2, Brown 4-9 5-10 13, Rady 0-1 0-0 0, Simmerman 1-6 0-2 3, Call 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 9-40 FG, 5-12 FT, 24 TP.

3-point shooting – EHS 2-19 (A. Bland 1-5, M. Bland 1-2, McElhinney 0-3, Austin 0-1, Laroche 0-3, Burks 0-5), GHS 1-11 (Briones 0-8, Plew 0-1, Johnson 0-1, Simmerman 1-1). Rebounds – EHS 44 (A. Bland 4, M. Bland 11, Norton 1, McElhinney 4, Holmes 6, Austin 2, Laroche 2, Burks 1, Wright 1, Whaley 2, Yearby 3) GHS – 36 (Dobbs 4, Briones 2, Plew 3, Johnson 5, Brown 11, Rady 1, Simmerman 3, Call 1) FG Pct. – EHS 27.3, GHS 22.5. FT Pct. – EHS 40.0, GHS 41.7. Turnovers – EHS 17, GHS 25.