Sectional 9: Connersville 50, Greenfield-Central 40

 

Connersville and Greenfield Central seemed like mirror images coming into the night, and that scenario played out time and time again during the game. Greenfield started off on a 10-2 spurt thanks to a pair of threes from future UIndy Greyhound Tate Hall. Greenfield packed in their defense, daring the Spartans to shoot from outside, which they obliged, missing their first five attempts from deep. Beau Isaacs would hit a three as Connersville scored the last five points of the first quarter.

 

 

Isaacs would continue his strong play in the second quarter, working his way to the free throw line against the smaller Greenfield defenders. Connersville also extended their pressure defensively, and their length began to make things difficult for the Cougars. Missed shots and turnovers were unable to turn into points for Connersville, however, as they suffered through a couple of unforced errors in transition. Garrett Silcott would come to the rescue as the clock wound down. The sophomore point guard used his quickness to drive through the Greenfield defense and lay it in at the halftime horn.

 

 

Connersville would finally take the lead at 28-27 following a Beau Isaacs layup off of a beautiful no look pass from Grant Smith. Greenfield would respond with the next five points, including a three from Tate Hall, to take a two point advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

 

 

The Spartans would start a 14-0 run that would span nearly eight minutes at the end of the third quarter, and their defense would suffocate Greenfield's shooters. Senior guard Tyler Billups was a big part of the run, as his attacking mindset on offense was only eclipsed by his fantastic defense on Greenfield star Tate Hall. On the offensive end, once Connersville had the lead, they would begin to milk the clock. A minute would come off before Grant Smith found Beau Isaacs on a cut through the lane, where Isaacs was fouled. 

 

 

Greenfield would miss on a three point attempt from Chandler Bean with two minutes left that would have cut their deficit to a single point. The Cougars elected to foul Beau Isaacs, who hit both free throws to extend their lead to six. After a pair of Tyler Billups free throws, Grant Smith would poke the ball away from Chandler Bean and get fouled, where he extended the Spartan lead to ten.

 

 

A pair of Blake Robertson threes, the first of which snapped an 8:28 scoreless drought, would close the gap slightly, but the final dagger to Greenfield came when Grant Smith streaked a passing lane for a breakaway dunk with under 25 seconds left.