GREENCASTLE — Southmont girls basketball couldn’t get much going in the first half and it cost them their season on Tuesday evening as they fell to Greencastle in the opening game of the Class 2A Sectional 44 tournament at Greencastle. It was all Tiger Cubs in the first half as they lead 30-8 after the first two quarters. While the Mounties didn’t go down quietly, out-scoring the host Tiger Cubs 31-25 in the second half, it was a case of too little too late as the Mounties saw their season end.
“We tried to take the ball out of Brewer’s hands and I thought we did that for the most part in that first half,” Southmont coach Dan Burkman said. “The problem was their other shooters stepped up and made threes. They made us pay by doing that. Playing a team like that you have to pick your poison.”
Gloria Brewer entered the game for the Tiger Cubs averaging right around 26 points per game, In the first half she had just nine points but scored just a single field-goal, but the damage was done by the combination of Evie Briones and Emma Hunter. Hunter scored 13 first half points while Briones drilled two threes to score six. Brewer ended the game scoring a game-high 21 points, Hunter added 20, Briones 12, and Madi Plew two.
Southmont was led in scoring by junior DeLorean Mason’s 18 points. Chloe Jenkins added 14, Cheyenne Shaw five and Olivia Gray two.
“I asked the girls at halftime, if we played like we did in the first half are they going to be satisfied,” Burkman said. “The answer was an obvious no and we came out and were more aggressive and more energy. When you get down like we did early it really sucks the wind of us I think.”
The Mounties end the season with an overall record of 11-11. It’s a two game improvement from a season ago which coming into this season saw the team lose four seniors, including three starters. Burkman took a moment to reflect on the season after the loss including thanking his two seniors in Saylor Woods and Chelsea Veatch who put on a Mountie uniform for the final time.
“I told them that we shouldn’t shake our heads at an 11-win season,” he said. “We lost three starters and still managed to win more games than last year. We’ve had to battle a lot of ups and a lot of downs this year. I think this year is a really good learning season for us with all of the girls that we have returning. We’re really going to miss both Saylor and Chelsea and the leadership they gave us. They were really the glue that held us together.”
The off-season begins tomorrow as most coaches say after a season-ending loss. Southmont will return the likes of Mason, Jenkins, Shaw, Gray and plenty others for next season. It’s something that Burkman is already looking forward to.
“It’s going to be fun next year,” he said. “I know these girls are willing to put in the work necessary to have an even better season next year.”
Greencastle with the win improves to 20-4 on the season. They will now take on Cloverdale in the semi-finals on Friday night.
