Batesville — The Greensburg girls basketball team entered the Batesville Sectional 29 tournament against Madison for the second straight year.

The Lady Pirates opened with hopes of blocking the Lady Cubs from defending their championship, but Madison advanced with a 67-43 win Wednesday in Batesville.

Greensburg scored first, but Madison jumped out to a 9-1 lead that expanded to 26-9 near the end of the first quarter. Pirate senior Jennifer Redelman, Greensburg's leading scorer with 236 points heading into the game, contributed early and often. She scored seven first-quarter points and ended the period with a basket at the buzzer. However, Madison led 26-11 at the first stop.

The Cubs outscored Greensburg 13-9 in the second quarter as junior Hannah Cain ended the half with a deuce and a 3-pointer to make it 39-20. The burst answered a 7-0 Pirate run that included baskets from Redelman and senior guard Courtney Smith. Junior Clare Owens capped it with a 3-point play, 32-19. Owens had gone coast-to-coast with a steal and went airborne for the shot as senior Mandy Stoll tried to cut her off hard at the basket. The effort play drew loud cheers of appreciation from Pirate supporters.

Redelman led Greensburg with nine points at the break.

Greensburg came out of the half and edged Madison 14-13 in the next eight minutes. Following two scores from Stoll to make it 43-22, sophomore Joanna Redelman and her older sister combined for 10 of the game's next 15 points. Madison ended the third with a score and a 52-34 lead.

Jennifer Redelman shot 7-for-8 from the foul line Wednesday, with two shots opening her team's fourth-quarter scoring. Greensburg head coach Mike Miller rotated juniors Heidi Dance and Hayley Williams and freshmen Chelsea Hersley and Abbey Denton into the game. The Pirates ran off a 5-0 run on an Owens triple and a rebound basket by Jennifer Redelman. Greensburg was the last squad to strike as Williams dropped in a rebound basket right before the horn.

Redelman finished with a game-high 19 points, while Owens and Joanna Redelman each scored eight. Junior Audrey Geis, Smith, freshman starter Jessica Banaschak and Williams each chipped in two.

The Pirates shot 8-for-9 from the foul line, while Madison shot 11-for-13.

Senior Kelsey Block led Madison with 14 points on three treys. Cain and Macky Hecox each followed with 11.

Madison improved to 14-7 under first-year head coach Willie Humes.

Afterward, Miller applauded how hard his team worked to compete against an experienced team and a tough defensive press.

"I don't have any complaint with our effort and our approach in the game," said Miller. "We needed some things to happen."

Miller also praised the senior leadership in the midst of adversity as the players adjusted to new roles and different rotations throughout the season. Senior guard Morgan Menkedick missed the second half of the season with an injury, as did junior guard Shelby Ward.

"Our two seniors did a really good job of hanging in there in the face of difficulties," he said of Redelman and Smith. "This is really similar to when Chas (Lecher) and those seniors were freshmen. The young kids did a good job of keeping things together. I think that we'll be okay. In fact, I know we'll be okay."

Madison advances to play Franklin County Friday night after the Wildcats topped Lawrenceburg 34-22 in Wednesday's first game. Rushville will play Batesville in the semifinals' first game Friday.

Scoring by Quarters:

MD - 26  13  13  15 - 67

GB - 11    9  14    9 - 43



Contact Nick Gonnella at (812) 663-3111, x7003.