Evans goes for 30 points, Rector wins 100th game as Tiger Cubs pounce on Mounties

Greencastle head coach Bryce Rector reached the 100-win milestone Saturday night after the Tiger Cubs defeated Southmont 64-48. Rector, in his eighth season at the helm, sits at 100-79 with Greencastle currently 3-3 to start the 2023-24 boys' basketball season.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

Two teams who had decidedly different Friday night outings met at McAnally Center Saturday night as Greencastle welcomed in Southmont as part of a back-to-back boys’ basketball weekend.

The Tiger Cubs, who won a comfortable victory over South Putnam, and the Mounties, who gamely battled unbeaten Danville, came into the game in very different states and it was the hosts who took advantage, using a 30-point night from Cody Evans for a 64-48 win.

“Cody really got us going and he was fantastic for us offensively,” Greencastle head coach Bryce Rector, who won his 100th game as head coach of the Tiger Cubs, said about the sophomore’s scoring spree Saturday. “When he gets things going, it opens up a lot of things for us on the offensive end.

“Both wins this weekend were all about the way we performed on the defense end as we made stuff tough for both teams. (Southmont) only had 29 points after three quarters and what we did on that end is what spearheaded a 2-0 week.”

Evans, who started well with eight points against the Eagles on Friday night, had an even better first quarter against Southmont, scoring 13 of Greencastle’s 16 first-quarter points.

Evans drove to the basket several times early on, getting a pair of free throws in-between his first two baskets.

A three-point play went unanswered but Judah Amis claimed the offensive board and added a free throw to make it 9-4.

Evans followed with a jumper and three that forced a Mountie timeout with two minutes to play in the period, the visitors trailing 14-4.

Austin Foley would notch three free throws late in the period for Southmont while Ian Williamson hit two in reply as the Tiger Cubs led 16-7 after a quarter of play.

The bedrock of Greencastle's success Saturday night was Cody Evans, who went for a career-high 30 points against Southmont, scoring 13 of the Tiger Cubs' 16 first-quarter points. Evans' effort was the second 30-point game of the season for Greencastle after Sam Gooch scored 32 points in a loss against West Vigo.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

Evans connected with the first basket of the second quarter before Sam Gooch scored the next seven points for the hosts, knocking down a three and scoring off a steal before adding a floater.

Evan Watson kept the visitors from being blown away, hitting a three and scoring on a pair of drives to keep the lead in single digits at 24-17.

The teams traded baskets until the end of the half as Evans hit a floater and Nathan Sutherlin added a free throw to give the hosts a 31-21 lead at the break.

“What’s fun about this team is that they’re still young and you’re seeing a lot of growth still early on,” Rector said about the defense keeping Southmont in check early on. “By the end of the year, you’re going to see a way different team than now.

“Our ability to communicate and have a sense of urgency on defense is something we’ve preached all week in practice and you saw that this weekend.”

Evans would help double the lead early in the second half with eight points in a 10-0 run, scoring twice on drives, notching two free throws and adding a jumper around a Gooch dunk off a steal as Greencastle took a 43-23 lead.

Vince Reimondo scored six late points for Southmont but an Anthony Adams three and Gooch floater negated most of the effort as the hosts led 48-29 after three quarters of play.

The teams continued to score at a brisk pace in the final period as Carter Hubble had six points for the visitors but was answered with baskets from Williamson, Evans and Adams.

“We’re learning how to play when people take away things from us,” Rector said about the rest of the offense finding its role on the night. “Sam did a better job of being willing to dish the ball off when three people collapse on him.

“It may lower his scoring total for a few games but as we start progressing on and winning games by getting others involved, he’ll score more. We had eight assists, a decent amount for a night when one player really goes off with the ball in his hands, because we shared the ball and moved the ball well.”

Greencastle’s lead hit its peak at 61-38 on an Evans three before reserves took over the remainder of the contest, Austin Foley notably scoring six late points to help bring the margin down to its 16-point finale.

Gooch backed Evans’ 30-point night with 15 points of his own while Watson was the only player to reach double-figures for the Mounties with 11 points, though Reimondo, Foley and Hubble all finished with nine points.

Rector, who has been the head coach at Greencastle for eight seasons, added reaching a major coaching mark came about thanks to a collection of players and support he had been surrounded with at the helm of the Tiger Cubs.

“I’ve been blessed to have some really good players here and that helps a lot,” Rector said on his milestone night. “I’ve been lucky that Greencastle took a chance on a 24-year-old kid and there’s no place I’d rather have 100 victories.

“I hope the next 100 wins are just as sweet as the first 100 were.”

Scoring

Southmont (14-37 2FG; 2-15 3FG; 14-16 FT) — Watson 11, Reimondo 9, Foley 9, Hubble 9, Hess 4, Fox 2, Oppy 2, McMasters 2

Greencastle (18-28 2FG; 4-5 3FG; 16-21 FT) — Evans 30, Gooch 15, Adams 5, Williamson 4, Amis 3, Sutherlin 3, Sullivan 2, Beasley 2

Statistics