For The Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — Sometimes, a disappointing loss can have a positive effect on a team’s season, and that certainly seemed the case for the Greenfield-Central Cougars on Friday night.
After losing earlier in the week to Indianapolis Broad Ripple, the Cougars responded with a dominating performance Friday night, defeating the visiting Yorktown Tigers 62-30.
“I thought we definitely came out with an inspired effort and a sense of urgency in tonight’s game,” Greenfield-Central coach Michael Lewis stated afterwards. “I thought that effort was led by our defense.”
The Cougars began the game on a 19-0 run, keyed by 10 early points from senior Blake Robertson, a 3-pointer from senior Tate Hall, and back-to-back-to-back steals and layups from senior Chandler Bean.
Only a late 3-pointer by Yorktown sophomore Bobby Smith prevented the Cougars from shutting the Tigers out in the first quarter.
The second quarter proved no different, as the Cougars would hold the Tigers to only two points in the frame, on another basket by Smith.
That continued stingy defense, combined with Robertson and Hall leading the way on the offense and glass, respectively, gave Greenfield a comfortable 30-5 lead going into halftime.
“It’s our job as coaches in a game like this to preach to the kids that every repetition matters, so just because we are ahead by 25 doesn’t mean we can ease off in the third quarter,” Lewis said. “I really thought Chandler Bean’s and Blake Robertson’s defense throughout the whole game proved that.”
Bean finished with eight points, all scored off easy transition layups keyed by his own theft of the ball.
Robertson would finish with a team-high 19 points and three rebounds.
While Yorktown’s shots started to fall a bit more in the second half, the Tigers never got closer than a 21-point deficit in the second half as Tate Hall’s increased scoring kept any hopes of a comeback at bay.
Hall would finish with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The victory improves the Cougars’ record to 5-1, with a 2-0 record in the Hoosier Heritage Conference. Greenfield next takes the floor Tuesday night in Connersville.
