GBB SECT. 8: Greenfield-Central, host Pendleton Heights advance

PENDLETON – The styles were different, but the results were the same Feb. 11 in both first-round games of the Pendleton Heights Sectional. Both Greenfield-Central and Pendleton Heights scored lopsided victories, and that sets up the rematch of the regular-season contest won 50-48 by Greenfield that everyone wanted to see between the Hoosier Heritage Conference foes. 

The Cougars brought a quick end to Anderson Highland’s last appearance in state tourney action by downing the Scots, 69-51, Thursday night. Meanwhile, the host Arabians stymied Muncie Central, 44-25.

You may rest assured that Greenfield-Central coach Doug Laker is telling his charges they learned a lesson from the Anderson Highland game. Sometimes when things are too easy, they can become very difficult. 

The Cougars (16-5) jumped to a 14-1 lead in the first two and a half minutes of the game. After that torrid start, they seemingly relaxed on defense, and it nearly came back to bite them.

By the end of the first quarter, the Scots (8-13) had stopped the bleeding and trailed 25-14. At intermission, they had cut the margin to 38-31. Still, it seemed it would make little difference because Greenfield-Central was scoring at will. 

That all changed at the outset of the second half.

The Cougars came out of the locker room frigid offensively. On their first 10 possessions covering over four minutes, they scored only two points and committed four turnovers. It was a tailor-made opportunity for Anderson Highland to finish the comeback. 

The opportunity, however, went by the wayside as the Scots also managed only two points during the stretch. Greenfield regained its rhythm and finished the quarter with a flurry of points to increase the lead to 50-38. 

The Scots never managed to threaten in the fourth stanza.

Kelsey Bryant was the Cougar who did the most damage. The talented senior guard poured in a game-high 26 points. Junior Jessica Lark did her best to extend the life of her Scots, tallying 21 points in the contest.

The Pendleton Heights-Muncie Central game started far more competitively. 

The Arabians led at the end of one quarter, 16-12. They carved out that advantage primarily because of strong work on the offensive boards. The Bearcats managed to keep pace by creating open-court situations that got their scorers to the rim. 

That second thing, though, ended all too abruptly and dramatically.

Coach Shari Doud switched her Arabians (17-5) from a modest three-quarter-court press back to a sagging man-to-man defense in the half court. The simple move effectively ended Muncie Central’s evening. 

The Bearcats (7-13) went the next 14:23 without a single point, and they did not dent the scoreboard again until 1:37 remained in the third period. By then, Pendleton Heights had built a 31-12 lead, and the verdict had long been decided. 

Wright State-bound Mur Hagerman had an outstanding game for Pendleton Heights, scoring 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. However, it was the outstanding performance of young Kenzie Gustin that truly bedeviled the Bearcats. 

Gustin scored 10 points by seemingly always being in the right place at the right time during the contest. It is also impossible to make too much of the defensive job junior Hannah Douglas did on Muncie Central’s talented Jamie Drummer. 

Drummer ended with 13 points, but many of them were in the fourth quarter after the game had been decided.

So, one team advanced with a devastatingly potent offense while the other employed a smothering defensive effort. It sounds as though the rematch will live up to its billing.

Game 1 – Greenfield-Central 69, Anderson Highland 51

Game 2 – Pendleton Heights 44, Muncie Central 25

Game 3 – Anderson vs. Richmond. PPD FRI 6p

Game 4 – Connersville vs. New Castle. PPD FRI to follow

Game 5 – Greenfield-Central vs. Pendleton Heights. PPD SAT 6p

Game 6 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4. PPD SAT to follow

Championship – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6. PPD MON 7p