Greenfield-Central head coach Bradley Key talks with his team before the start against Southport on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. (Tom Russo/The Daily Reporter)
By James Howell Jr./For The Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — Every bit of experience matters in high school athletics. For the young and feisty Greenfield-Central Cougars (9-12), who start three freshmen, meeting a .500 or better team from metro Indianapolis is a tall task, but one that will pay off in the long run.
On Thursday night, the task was the .500 Southport Cardinals (11-12). The Cougars stepped up to the task with a definitive 45-31 win to carry them into the start of the IHSAA state tournament next week.
Cougars head coach Bradley Key spoke to the experience gained for his young squad and how he feels the team is playing their best basketball of the season at the right time.
“I am just proud,” Key said, “Every single game matters for us with so many young players, and they could’ve cashed out on this season so long ago, but didn’t. We started 1-9 and to turn it around and get to nine wins and be playing as good as we are at the right time, just couldn’t be more proud.”
Early on neither team found success offensively as physicality of defense was the focus.
The Cougars were able to pull ahead in the first quarter 8-5 thanks to freshman Chaney Brown’s efforts in the paint. Brown was a focal point of the offense throughout the night as she led the Cougars with 13 points.
In the second quarter, the Cougars began to create a little bit of separation from the Cardinals, but not too much as Southport began a full-court press defense and pulled down double the rebounds of the Cougars to garner second-chance opportunities.
Two Brooklyn McConnell 3-pointers late in the second quarter proved to be all the difference the Cougars needed heading to the locker room, up 20-12.
In the second half, the Cougars offense found a little more rhythm while the Cardinals continued to struggle. By the end of the third, the Cardinals were shooting just 5-for-28 from the court and had more points at the free throw line than from their field goal attempts.
Senior Annan Tiede’s fast hands, pulling away three steals on her senior night, and opportunistic shows from the likes of Kammi Anderson and Schuyler Sparks earned the Cougars a 14-point edge heading into the final quarter.
Southport’s offense never caught up to speed with the Cougars as their second-chance opportunities nearly disappeared and the Cougars spread their lead to as many as 21 in the fourth.
Prior to tip-off the Cougars three seniors were recognized. Tiede and teammate Audrey Pechin were joined at midcourt by team statistician Devan Franklin for a healthy round of applause for their contributions to the program.
“I am happy for our seniors and proud of who they have become,” Key said. “Pechin came in as a freshman at the bottom of the totem pole and now she is playing and giving us so many valuable minutes. Tiede came in as a sophomore and, like tonight, has been a key for us in some wins.”
Key continued by explaining his gratitude to each of the three seniors.
“Those two could have given up on this program so long ago with the rough past couple of seasons but they didn’t. They are such great role models to the younger players on the team. And I have to mention our great stat guy Devan as well for always being there and being his great self. I wish I had one more year with each of them.”
The Cougars get a second chance against rival New Palestine to open the sectional at Mt. Vernon next week. In the early season meeting the Dragons edged the Cougars 43-32 at New Palestine.
Greenfield-Central 45, Southport 31
Greenfield-Central;8;12;12;13; — ;45
Southport;5;7;6;13; — ;31
Greenfield-Central (9-12): Brooklyn McConnell 4 2-3 12, Chaney Brown 6 1-2 13, Schuyler Sparks 2 3-4 9, Annan Tiede 2 0-3 4, Josie White 0 2-2 2, Kammi Anderson 2 0-0 4, Addy Herrin 0 1-2 1. Totals: 16 9-16 45.
Southport (11-12): Cece Mitchell 2 10-14 14, Taleah Nool 2 0-0 4, Miranda Deane 2 2-4 6, Lela Scott 1 0-0 2, Kassie McMasters 1 0-2 2, Sophia Nguyen 1 0-0 3. Totals: 9 12-20 31.
3-point field goals: Greenfield-Central 4 (McConnell 2, Sparks 2), Southport 1 (Nguyen 1).
