GCA boys have grown through disappointments

<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. &quot;They just had that look in their eye like, ‘This is not going to be the end.’&quot;</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]