GREENFIELD — In search of back-to-back wins for the first time since the season’s opening two games, the Greenfield-Central Cougars couldn’t keep up with an early 3-point barrage.
After a close first quarter, visiting Connersville broke the game open with 3-pointer after 3-pointer in the second. Big second and third quarters from the Spartans put the Cougars behind by 20 heading into the final frame.
A furious Cougars comeback attempt simply ran out of time. The hosts fell to visiting Connersville, 73-63.
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“Me being stubborn, we weren’t doing some things I wanted to so we had to sit two of our starters, which dug us a hole. That’s on me,” Greenfield-Central coach Bradley Key said. “Trying to get them to play my mentality, I dug us a hole there. But really, really proud of how they continued to fight, continued to battle.”
Two big runs had put the Cougars down. Connersville (6-6) started the second quarter on an 11-0 run — the hole Key referred to — breaking open what was a one-point game. The Spartans then started the third quarter on a 13-0 run.
Greenfield-Central (5-8) scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter, as Hannah Farrell, who scored just a dozen in the first three quarters, quickly rattled off 11 points to cut the lead to single digits.
Farrell set a new school record in the win, making eight 3-pointers on 11 attempts, and led all scorers with 29 points. She added five assists, three rebounds and two steals in the loss.
“I thought Hannah played outstanding, especially since I got on her pretty hard,” Key said. “She responded well to it.”
The game started with 3-point shots and never got away from them. The teams combined to make eight 3-pointers in the first quarter and only two two-point baskets. The Cougars were 4 of 8 from long range and the Spartans were 4 of 10 in the first.
The first 14 shot attempts of the game were 3-pointers. The first seven made field goals were from long range.
Each team ended up making 13 3-pointers, and they combined to shoot 60 in the game.
“Connersville, they haven’t shot like that all year,” Key said. “The most that they’ve hit was nine, that was last game. They’re in rhythm right now. We’ve got to make sure we cover up shooters if they start to get hot.”
Following Farrell for the Cougars was Crystal Peterson, who scored 15 points and added three steals and two assists. Lydia McIntire added eight points and six rebounds. Keryna Barrett scored five and had five boards, Addie Hill had four points and Brooke Herrell added two.
The Spartans were led by Marley Smith’s 26 points and eight rebounds. Paige Dunaway added 19 and Jessica Beckman had 14 points for the visitors.
“It’s a learning process, and they’re starting to adapt my mentality,” Key said. “We’ve just got to start doing it for four quarters.”
The Cougars are back in action tonight at home against Lapel for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
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Connersville 73, Greenfield-Central 63
Connersville;16;19;23;15;—;73
Greenfield-Central;15;10;13;25;—;63
Connersville (6-6): Jessica Beckman 5 2-2 14, Marley Smith 7 10-11 26, Lauren Thompson 3 0-0 9, Paige Dunaway 6 2-4 19, Elise Bottomley 1 0-0 2, Giovanna Struewing 1 0-0 3, Sammi Potters 0 0-0 0. Totals: 23 14-17 73.
Greenfield-Central (5-8): Hannah Farrell 10 1-1 29, Crystal Peterson 5 1-4 15, Addie Hill 2 0-0 4, Lydia McIntire 2 4-6 8, Keryna Barrett 1 2-2 5, Haleigh Pribble 0 0-0 0, Brooke Herrell 1 0-0 2, Zoe Starks 0 0-0 0. Totals: 21 8-13 63.
3-point goals: Connersville 13 (Dunaway 5, Thompson 3, Beckman 2, Smith 2, Struewing), Greenfield-Central 13 (Farrell 8, Peterson 4, Barrett).
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Also in action Tuesday night was the Eastern Hancock girls basketball team, who was on the road at Cambridge City Lincoln.
Eastern Hancock 56, Cambridge City Lincoln 28
Haley Best scored 15, Jocelyn Duncan had 13 and Bella Witte added 11 points in the Royals win.
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