Miller’s Free Throws Sink East Central In Big EIAC Battle Friday

Nick Gonnella

Greensburg — After leading for most of the game against East Central Friday night at home, the Greensburg boys basketball team needed heroics against another Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference rival.

The Pirates had beaten Batesville last weekend on senior Shawn Burcham’s 3-pointer, and senior Ty Miller had no problem being the game winner last night.

This time, though, Miller was uncontested as he sank a pair of free throws with no time left on the game clock to cap the Pirates’ last-minute thriller.

Primacy in the EIAC was up for grabs, and Greensburg again rallied around its core of seniors to ensure an undefeated record heading into next weekend.

The Pirates, who improved to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the EIAC, led 17-12 after the first quarter.

Burcham hit a 3-pointer about three minutes in to the second quarter to put some distance in between the teams at 23-16, but the second period became a shootout before the Pirates went into the half leading by five, 33-26.

Miller had scored 15 points in the first half, while Greg and Andrew Dougan followed with six apiece.

Trogan senior Kevin Kidd tested Greensburg’s defense all night. His trey on the first possession of the half tightened the margin before senior Adam Wilson’s basket and another Burcham trey lifted their team back up by six. A traditional three-point play by senior Greg Dougan gave Greensburg its largest lead at 46-37. The third quarter ended with a 50-47 Pirate lead.

Following a Greensburg timeout and trailing just 55-53 halfway through the fourth quarter, a basket by East Central tied the game with 2:10 to go in the game. Senior Brandon Will’s basket gave the visitors the first lead of the night, 57-55, at the 2:10 mark.

Kidd made two free throws when Andrew Dougan fouled out of the game with 36 seconds left, putting the Trojans up by two scores. Kidd finished the night with 29 points.

Burcham, though, answered with a layup after a Greensburg timeout with 15 seconds left.

After another timeout, Burcham fouled East Central to get the ball back.

The free throw was missed, giving Greensburg possession.

East Central called a timeout with seven seconds remaining. After a foul, Burcham missed the back end and Miller committed a foul on the rebound. Again, the Trojan free throw bounced off the side of the rim.

With five seconds left and down by one point, Greensburg inbounded and Burcham found Miller under the basket. Miller drove for the score, but was fouled taking the shot as time expired.

Miller coolly made both free throws for the 60-59 win.

“I’m so proud of him,” said head coach Stacy Meyer of Miller. “We never lost our composure. We never panicked.”

According to Meyer, Miller was assigned to guard the Trojans’ 6-foot-7 sophomore Logan Jaehnen.

“Obviously, Ty had a great half,” said Meyer. “I think he wore him out.”

Meyer said Greensburg was intent on tying the game at the very least because “everything was going our way. Greg (Dougan) hit a couple big three’s in the second half. Our lead goes away, and Greg steps up and hits a big shot. With maturity and guys having been through the battles and never giving up, we got the win.”

Meyer stressed the importance of Greensburg’s conference fight as its win over East Central gave the Pirates a chance to have first place to themselves.

“The kids knew this is a big game,” he said. “This is the way the conference is going to be this year. Every game is going to be close and hard fought. Are you going to make the plays? Are you going to defend and rebound?”

Greensburg made the big plays Friday night, but it was a different Pirate coming through in the clutch.

“That’s why we are an experienced team,” said Meyer. “We just never quit.”

Miller led Greensburg with 17 points, Burcham finished with 13 points, Greg Dougan had 15, and Andrew Dougan scored eight. Also scoring was Adam Wilson with five, while Jacob Evans and Logan Barker added one apiece.

Greensburg will face Jennings County next Friday at home, then travel to Franklin County for another EIAC matchup Saturday before Christmas break.



Scoring by Quarters:

EC - 12 14 21 12 -- 59

GB - 17 16 17 10 -- 60



The junior varsity Pirates fell to the Trojans in the first game, 35-25.

Leading the home team in scoring was Justin Smith with nine points. Matt Lee and Ethan Bailey scored five apiece, Bobby Beeler added three off the bench and Kevin Meyer added one.

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