INDIANAPOLIS
Greenwood completed a boys and girls basketball sweep Friday night at Mid-State Conference rival Decatur Central.
In the girls game, the Woodmen assured themselves a winning season for the first time in three seasons with a 79-35 win.
In the boys game, the Woodmen rallied from a 25-point deficit for a 62-58 victory.
Besides the winning season, Greenwood’s girls (12-9) also assured themselves of no worse than third place in the Mid-State Conference. The occasion also marked their first two-game winning streak since December.
Woodmen coach Lee Taft wanted to ensure the Woodmen wouldn’t be flat this night by employing a fast-paced, highly energized game, something of a trademark this year with Greenwood.
The Woodmen succeeded, even in the face of the Hawks’ zone defense.
Five quick 3-point baskets in the first quarter, including three by senior Holly Hoopingarner, set the tone for Greenwood.
“We were very fast, and I’m not sure (Decatur Central) was used to that,” Taft said. “We set up well and just had a nice game.”
Hoopingarner, who scored 25 first-half points, finished up with 31 to lead all scorers. Senior teammates Jae Taft added 16, while Brooke Uebersetizig added 10.
Decatur Central (6-14) was led by senior Maddy Burger with 12 points.
If there was a fault in the Woodmen’s play, it was their rebounding.
The taller Hawks held a 48-32 advantage, something that other taller teams have in their scouting report on the Woodmen come tournament time.
“I don’t think we have outrebounded an opponent all year,” Taft said. “We got caught out in the wrong position and tried to jump with them. The girls have to box out more and get in position.
“When they do that, they will do a better job.”
Greenwood concludes the regular season Tuesday at county rival Center Grove.
While the girls put together a solid effort, the same couldn’t be said of the boys’ team — until the end with their furious rally.
Two free throws by senior Justin Conley with 10 seconds left sealed the win for the Woodmen in an improbable comeback, their biggest of the year.
It’s the third time in four games the Woodmen have come back from double-digit second-half deficits, a habit that Greenwood coach Bruce Hensley would like his team to break.
“I’m still breathing,” Hensley said. “If you knew why they do this, you would get it fixed. We can’t keep using this as an excuse to come back, but the kids have heart.
“This shows that if you play as a team, good things happen.”
Greenwood scored only six second-quarter points and trailed 44-19 in the third quarter. But the Woodmen went on a 20-3 run in the final five minutes of the third quarter to trim the lead to 48-41 heading into the final period.
The run set the stage for the comeback.
“We’re young and we let things bother us,” Hensley said. “We have to learn to take the bad with the good, but in that first half we weren’t playing as a team and we were selfish.
“The guys have learned if you do it all on your own, it won’t work. Everyone contributed.”
Sophomore Eric Moenkhaus led the Woodmen with 18 points. Sophomore Jeffrey Reynolds added 16 points and 16 rebounds, and sophomore Braydon Kincaid chipped in with 12 points.
Decatur Central was led by Antoine Divine with 14 points. Tyrone Tracy added 12.
The win was Greenwood’s first in conference play and evened its record at 7-7. The Woodmen now have a three-game winning streak.
Greenwood’s next game is Jan. 29 at Shelbyville.
