For the Daily Journal
INDIANAPOLIS
A controversial foul call with 4.8 seconds remaining helped host Decatur Central eke out a 59-57 win against Greenwood in boys basketball action Friday.
With the score tied, Max Raker was whistled for a foul against Decatur Central’s Kenny Tracy as Tracy appeared to pass the ball. However, the referee ruled that Tracy was attempting to shoot a 3-point shot and awarded him three free throws.
Tracy hit two of them, which gave the Hawks a mild upset win and kept alive their chances for a Mid-State Conference title.
Meanwhile, Greenwood (2-2, 9-4) saw its championship hopes seriously damaged.
Greenwood coach Joe Bradburn said that it wasn’t the call that doomed the Woodmen.
“It’s the end of the game and everyone will either agree or disagree with the call, but one thing is we had multiple opportunities to control the game and come away with a win and we didn’t.”
Bradburn was referring to the Woodman’s seemingly fat 10-point lead in the third quarter that had the Hawks on their heels before the hosts responded with a 13-0 run.
“Our seniors have to be more composed,” Bradburn said.
Decatur Central came out gunning at the start, hitting six 3-point shots in the first half, but Greenwood countered with a superior inside game.
The Hawks held a 55-47 lead with 3:46 to play before the Woodmen woke up and went on a six-point run of their own.
Senior Eric Moenkhaus then tied the game with 52 seconds left, but that was the last of the Woodmen’s scoring.
Senior Braydon Kincaid came off the bench to lead all scorers with 20 points. Moenkhaus added 14 and Jeff Reynolds 12.
The girls game that preceded it was no less exciting, as Bailee Taft’s 3-point basket with four seconds left, lifted Greenwood to a thrilling 34-32 win.
Senior Leah Moore drew double coverage on the final play, leaving Taft open to hit her second 3-pointer of the half.
“I was surprised they left me open like that,” Taft said. “I thought for sure they would cover me.”
The win was Greenwood’s first in conference play and evened the team’s overall mark at 11-11 going into next Tuesday’s regular-season finale against Center Grove.
“Bailee hits the big shots,” said Greenwood coach Bill Torgerson. “That play gives us options and it’s either going to go to Bailee or Leah.”
The Woodmen played well defensively but couldn’t muster much of an offense in the first half, scoring just 17 points.
That continued in the second half as the Woodmen had only seven points in the third quarter, but they were able to hit the double-figure mark in the fourth thanks to a pair of baskets by Moore, a timely 3-point basket by Ashley Buster and then Taft’s game-winner.
“You just have to keep shooting those baskets,” Taft said.
The teams traded the lead eight times in the fourth.
Moore led Greenwood with 11 points, while Taft had eight.
“This is a big win for us,” Torgerson said. “Now we have to concentrate on (Center Grove).”
