<p>Greenwood Christian Academy experienced a four-game losing streak and a pair of three-gamers during the regular season.</p><p>Each time, the Cougars used the experience to get better.</p><p>The past 25 games have been quite a journey for GCA boys basketball coach Jonny Marlin, whose squad displayed tenacity working through issues on and off the court to become the second Class A regional qualifier in program history.</p><p>“In every season there are ups and downs,” Marlin said. “As the season goes on we want to keep growing and have the kids keep a line mentality. I saw growth from our team from Game 1 to Game 2 and again from Game 2 to Game 3.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery<p>“That’s a testament to who they are. There was never a lack of joy or motivation the next day in practice.”</p><p>In December, the Indiana High School Athletic Association placed Greenwood Christian on probation for providing financial assistance to a prospective student-athlete.</p><p>The IHSAA ruling did not affect the Cougars’ postseason eligibility, primarily because the violation was self-reported by the school. GCA cooperated fully with the IHSAA’s investigation.</p><p>Marlin spent a day speaking with players about the situation, and said the subject hasn’t been brought up since.</p><p>The squad opened February with four losses by a total of 20 points — including a 71-61 decision at home to Morristown, Saturday’s regional opponent — to drop to 10-10.</p><p>Standing at a crossroads as to how its season would be remembered, Greenwood Christian responded with five straight victories, capped by a thrilling come-from-behind 49-48 win over Providence Cristo Rey in the sectional championship game at Indianapolis Lutheran.</p><p>Two of the team’s five seniors, guards Payton Modlin and Quentin Steele, are four-year starters. Backups Elliott Murray and George Apgar have been on varsity since they were freshmen, while senior reserve Trey Spears is in his second season with the team.</p><p>“We had three of our five seniors on the court when we made the comeback,” Marlin said. "They just had that look in their eye like, ‘This is not going to be the end.’"</p><p>Prior to Saturday night, the program’s gold standard was the 2013-14 sectional titlists that advanced to the regional final before losing a 66-65 heartbreaker to Clay City. That team also posted the Cougars’ top single-season win total (19), a number the current GCA squad can equal only by winning state.</p><p>“I remember being in the seventh grade and watching that 2014 team. I wanted to be just like them,” Steele said. “We worked so hard for this. I feel like I had to step up as a leader and other upperclassmen had to step up as leaders. We’ve done so and have grown closer as a team.”</p><p>On Feb. 19, the Cougars won at University, a team that ended the regular season ranked fifth in Class A, by a score of 57-55. Steele points to that game as the one giving everyone the belief a long postseason run was possible.</p><p>“We knew we had something special. We fought all through that game,” he said. “Our coaches do a good job of drilling uphill all the time. We just go uphill. It doesn’t matter what’s in our way. We just have to keep grinding uphill.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><p><strong>Class 4A Seymour Regional</strong></p><p><p><strong>Saturday</strong></p><p>Jasper (16-9) vs. Center Grove (19-8), 10 a.m.</p><p>Bloomington South (23-3) vs. Jeffersonville (19-5), noon</p><p>Championship, 8 p.m.</p><p><p><strong>Class A Martinsville Regional</strong></p><p><p><strong>Saturday</strong></p><p>Morristown (22-4) vs. Greenwood Christian (15-10), 10 a.m.</p><p>Bloomfield (18-7) vs. Indianapolis Metropolitan (16-9), noon</p><p>Championship, 8 p.m.</p><p>Admission: Tickets at either site are $7 for a single session or $10 for the full day.</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]