Greensburg Daily News, Greensburg, IN

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  • Greensburg junior Sean Sellers (left) was presented the game ball from Friday’s game for surpassing the 1,000-point career scoring mark. Athletic director Bill Edwards acknowledged the milestone before player introductions Saturday. Nick Gonnella

    GB boys Sean game ball
January 8, 2013

Pirates overwhelm future EIAC rival

Nick Gonnella Greensburg Daily News

Greensburg — The Greensburg boys basketball team concluded a productive weekend Saturday that featured another team effort, especially on defense.

The host Pirates defeated Connersville 62-27 to complete a sweep of Class 4A teams. Greensburg, the top-ranked Class 3A team in the Associated Press poll, has beaten Class 4A teams nine straight times dating back to last season’s win over East Central Dec. 9.

The win also marked the 31st straight regular-season win for Greensburg (11-0), which went 20-0 last season.

The hosts alternated leads with the Spartans (6-6) five times in the first eight minutes. Junior Sean Sellers started the game with a jump shot on the first possession. The Spartans shot two early 3-pointers, but Pirate junior Collin Rigney started a big game from the perimeter with two treys of his own. His second bomb put Greensburg up for good at 13-10 with 2:40 left in the first.

The Pirate starters continued to make a push on both sides of the ball, outscoring the Spartans 17-2 in the second quarter. Rigney hit another triple off an inbounds from junior Macy Holdsworth, and sophomore Ryan Welage followed with a score. Junior Bryant McIntosh, who committed Monday to play basketball for Indiana State University, hit his own triple with two minutes left, provided the halftime margin at 30-14.

Greensburg’s defense continued to tighten up in the third quarter, holding the Spartans to two field goals. The Pirates led 44-17 after the third quarter. Welage scored six points in the frame, while Rigney knocked in his fourth trey of the game.

For the second straight night, the Pirates also prevented a double-digit scorer from the opposition.

“We did a great job for four quarters,” said Greensburg head coach Stacy Meyer. “That’s probably the best defensive effort we’ve had all year. To give that type of defensive effort, I’m very proud of our kids. It all starts with defense.”

McIntosh, who tallied 11 assists in Friday’s win over Shelbyville, again distributed the ball evenly in Saturday’s game. During one possession in the second half, Greensburg ran a set that ended in a possession where each player touched the ball, before McIntosh found Sellers open for a layup while getting fouled.

“That’s moving the basketball,” said Meyer.

Welage finished with 18 points, hitting 6-for-8 from the foul line. Sellers added 13 (5-for-5), one night after passing the 1,000-point career scoring mark. Rigney scored 12, and McIntosh scored nine (two treys). Holdsworth and junior Brad Wilson each scored three, while senior Riley Billieu and junior Tom Lawrence each added two.



Pirate JV team stops Spartans

The junior varsity Pirates defeated Connersville 51-39 in the first game, improving to 9-2 on the season. Junior Tye Fleetwood led Greensburg with 14 points, including 2-for-3 from the foul line and a pair of 3-pointers. Brad Wilson followed with 13 (3-for-4) and junior Tom Lawrence scored 12 (2-for-2. Freshman Drew Foster added 10 points (8-for-8), while junior Riley Burkert chipped in two.

The Pirates shot 15-for-17 (88 percent) from the foul line.

Greensburg plays just once this week, visiting EIAC rival Batesville (8-1 overall, 4-1 in conference) Friday night.

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

 

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