A night in their honor proved better for Center Grove’s three senior girls basketball players than even they could’ve imagined.
The Trojans’ 77-42 thumping of Greenwood featured a career high by the program’s third-leading career scorer and contributions by her classmates along the interior that helped Center Grove up its record to 17-5.
Cassidy Hardin tied a school record with eight 3-pointers on her way to 32 points, eclipsing her previous scoring standard (set in a 56-49 loss at Pike in December) by a point. Center Karinna Frankel and forward Amy Davis chipped in eight points and six rebounds, respectively.
“We knew we had to come out strong considering how we played last time against Greenwood, and we didn’t want to repeat that,” said Hardin, referring to the Trojans’ 11-point triumph in the semifinals of the Johnson County tournament.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
“We harped on playing team basketball in order to get the win. I’m just excited we got the W with my teammates. I love all of them, and I couldn’t have had the night I did without them.”
The Trojans wasted no time in taking control of the game, starting it with an 11-0 lead and never letting the Woodmen get any closer than six points. Center Grove’s advantage grew as large as 38 points early in the fourth quarter.
The Trojans shot a blistering 29 of 43 from the floor (.674) and limited the Woodmen to only .325 shooting.
“(Hardin) obviously shot it well, but as we talked about, it was a team effort,” Center Grove coach Kevin Stuckmeyer said. “Those other two seniors and our other screeners helped get her open, and our guards, Emma (Utterback) and Ella (Thompson), that’s probably the best they’ve played as far as having a floor general mentality.
“They all made the extra pass and had that unselfishness. No worries about who gets the credit. We set the tone defensively, and you could just tell our mind was in it.”
Thompson came through with 15 points and Utterback 10 in the victory. For Greenwood, which finishes the regular season with an 11-12 record, junior Alex Kincaid scored 12 while senior forward Leah Moore was close behind with 11.
The Trojans host Lawrence North in their regular-season finale Friday. After that, they help open the Franklin Central Sectional on Tuesday with their third meeting of the season against Whiteland.
Greenwood, which drew a bye into the second semifinal Feb. 2, plays the winner of Tuesday’s nightcap between Martinsville and the host Flashes.
