PLAINFIELD — A projected underdog entering Wednesday night’s regular-season finale, the Class 4A Greenfield-Central Cougars showed their bite early on at 4A No. 6 Plainfield.
The Quakers (20-2) were coming off their first loss in 17 games against 3A No. 2 Silver Creek, 68-61, on Saturday, and they were challenged once more in their regular-season finale by a much shorter Cougars (13-9) squad.
However, the Quakers but found a way to pick up the pace in the second half to win 73-55 on senior night.
“Give Greenfield-Central a lot of credit, 12 of 19 from (3-point) in the game, and in the first half we had them 7-for-11. They put up 22 points in the first quarter,” Plainfield head coach Andy Weaver said. “They can really shoot the basketball. They really put us on our heels early, and we were able to respond.”
Far from intimidated, the Cougars established a 22-15 lead after the first quarter behind 6 of 8 shooting from 3-point range and put together a 17-4 run.
Greenfield-Central opened the game converting 7 of 8 field goal attempts and pulled ahead 25-15 after a Caleb McIntire trey to open the second quarter. McIntire’s bucket marked the Cougars’ ninth conversion in 12 attempts through the first nine minutes.
“They’ve won 20 games three years in a row with this senior class. They are a top-five 4A team. We were picked to lose by 26, according to SAGARIN, and we came out in the first half and we were 7 of 11 from three,” Greenfield-Central head coach Luke Meredith said.
“We talk about our guys competing, playing hard, the standard is the standard, that’s who we are, and I thought we got sped up a little bit in the second quarter, but when we’re hitting shots, which we’re highly capable of doing, we can beat anybody. I’m trying to get the kids to believe that.”
The Cougars looked the part with a team-high 20 points by Dylan Moles and 12 by McIntire. Gavin Robertson had nine points and seven assists, while Will VanDuyn had seven points.
After McIntire’s 3 early in the second quarter, the Quakers cut the deficit with a 7-0 run, but a Moles and-1 put the Cougars up 28-22 with 6 minutes, 18 seconds left in the first half.
A 14-2 run by Plainfield, who countered with its height advantage and defense, flipped the scoreboard 36-30 by halftime.
“We were able to be up by six at halftime and feel very fortunate about it,” Weaver said. “Good start by them and not a great start by us. But, it was good to see our guys get going, but again, Greenfield-Central started out the third and hit a few shots. We were able to get some separation there late.”
Greenfield-Central pulled within one point, 38-37, to start the third quarter as VanDuyn and Moles buried a layup and 3-pointer, respectively.
From there, the Quakers took control, orchestrating an 11-3 run and throwing down three dunks in the quarter to take a 56-47 lead prior to the fourth.
“Our guys were a little intimidated last year against this same group, and then this year, I told them, we have nothing to lose. Just like next Wednesday (at sectional). We’re little old Greenfield still. We win 13 games and everybody talks about how we have a soft schedule and we can’t beat a 4A team or we can’t do this,” Meredith said. “This group can do anything, and I firmly believe that.”
Plainfield was paced by Cael Vanderbush with a game-high 30 points. The 6-foot-6 junior was 11 of 15 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
Ian Scott, at 6-7, had 18 points and seven rebounds. Grant Irwin, a 5-11 guard, had 15 points with 11 coming in the second half. The Quakers buried 13 of 16 free throws compared to the Cougars one in only two attempts.
Without a single player in the lineup standing over 6-1, the Cougars’ speed and kick outs gave the Quakers issues until the hosts strung together consecutive 20-plus point quarters in the second and third before a 17-point fourth.
The Cougars’ 13 wins this season is the most the program has amassed since going 20-5 in 2015-16.
Next week during Sectional 9, the Cougars are hopeful to secure a few more Ws.
Greenfield-Central opens the Richmond Sectional at the Tiernan Center against Hoosier Heritage Conference rival New Palestine on Wednesday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m.
“Ours guys are all in. It can be a statement game next Wednesday, but they’re back-to-back (sectional) champs for a reason and they have a really good team. But, I’m just proud that our guys came in here (tonight) and competed,” Meredith said.
The Cougars lost to the New Palestine Dragons 68-58 at home during the regular season on Dec. 11. The game ended with some jarring back and forth after a dunk by the Dragons in the final seconds with Greenfield-Central’s defense drawn back and the game already decided.
“I told the kids after that game, ‘It’s weird how things happen. We’re going to get another opportunity.’ And, when the kids saw that draw, they were excited,” Meredith said. “But, we’ve been the little brother. It’s not a rivalry until you win, so we got to go out there, and we’ll be underdogs again, but they have what we want. They beat us already. So, I’m just excited for the opportunities for our kids next Wednesday night.”
The Cougars are now off for seven days until next week’s opening round of sectional. The Dragons (14-7) wrap up their regular season at home against 4A Greenwood on Friday.
