*Story courtesy of www.bannergraphic.com*
ELLETTSVILLE -- When Greencastle drew second-ranked Edgewood as
its first round opponent of sectional play; they knew it would be a challenge
and what a challenge it turned out to be. It didn't help matters that Edgewood
hosted the Class 3A Sectional 29 and used it to their advantage.
Kendall Faust throws up a prayer
against the Edgewood defense in Wednesday's sectional loss.
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Greencastle watched as Edgewood connected
on 55 percent of their shots as opposed to their 30 percent as they fell to the
Mustangs 78-38.
Edgewood jumped out of the gate and took a 12-0 lead, leaving Greencastle
scrambling for the remainder of the contest. Mustang standout Garrett Butcher
scored eight in the opening quarter en route to a game-high 27 points.
The Tiger Cubs had a vision for the game but the Mustangs quickly dismantled
it.
"We knew that one thing we didn't want to happen was for them to get up quick
on us and that's kind of what happened," GHS head coach Troy Greenlee. "They hit
a two right off the bat and then we let (Tommy) Weakley get open for a three, so
we're down 5-0 right away and against a great team like that, if you doing
uphill the whole way then it's going to be tough, so we knew that was going to
be a big factor."
A deciding factor in the game Greenlee thought was the physicality the
Mustangs brought to the floor. As the GHS players made cuts and attempted shots,
Edgewood's defense made the Tiger Cubs work for everything.
Like any good team, Greenlee pointed out that when Edgewood sensed they had
control of the game, they never looked back. When asked to pinpoint what made
the game against the Mustangs so difficult, he responded that is was a range of
factors.
"(It was) a combination of things -- They're a great team, they're a physical
team, they're a very confident team and when you give them any kind of idea that
they're going to have a good night, they just run with it. It was a tough
night."
Greencastle battled with Edgewood's Butcher throughout the night with an
assortment of defenders assigned the task of stopping him. Brennan Burks, Kyle
Nobles and Bo Walker seemed to hold the scorer in check but Butcher found ways
to get his shots. Second shots and offensive rebounds were a factor Greenlee
acknowledged after the game. He thought the initial defense was solid but the
second chances the Mustangs received helped do in GHS.
"We just didn't do an effective job of getting them off the boards and make
them make that first shot," Greenlee said.
The Tiger Cubs leading scorer Burks had a difficult night, converting 1-of-9
from the field for two points. Whenever he was able to get away from his
defender there was a group of defender awaiting him.
"It was one of those games where we had trouble getting open looks, getting
anything where we were comfortable shooting the ball. We just didn't get the
ball where we needed to offensively," Greenlee said.
The game marked the final game for GHS seniors Burks, Kendall Faust and
Austin Miller. Greenlee lit up speaking of his seniors after the game and one
would hope that their leadership and character would impact the Tiger Cub
program for years to come.
"They (Burks, Miller, Faust) are three guys were really going to miss not
only for what they do for us on the basketball floor but just because they're
great kids," Greenlee commented. "They are three great examples of young men who
are going to be very successful in life because they do the right things and as
a coach that is something you're always looking for. Yeah you want good
basketball players but you want those kids to be successful in life and those
are three kids I have no doubt will be extremely successful.
"It been a privilege to coach them and they'll be sorely missed."
Greencastle ends its season with a record of 10-10.
At Edgewood
Edgewood 16 18 24 20 -- 78
Greencastle 4 10 18 6 --38
Edgewood -- Butcher 13 1-2 27, Weakley 7 0-0 20, Garner 4 0-0 10, Baugh 2 2-3
8, A. Butcher 1 1-2 3, Thornton 1 0-0 2, Collier 1 0-0 2, Breeden 1 0-0 2,
Walton 0 2-2 2, DuMond 0 2-2 2. Totals 30-55 FG 8-11 FT 78 TP.
Greencastle -- Marshall 3 0-0 6, Miller 3 0-0 6, Huber 2 0-0 6, Nobles 1 2-2
5, Bartrum 2 1-2 5, Faust 1 2-2 4, Burks 1 0-0 2, Walker 0 2-2 2, Hickam 1 0-2
2. Totals: 14-47 FG 7-10 FT 38 TP.
3pt. FG -- EHS 10 (Weakley 6, Garner 2, Thornton, Baugh), GHS 3 (Huber 2,
Nobles).
Total fouls -- EHS 14, GHS 12.
