Center Grove’s Ali Wiesmann passes her way out of trouble after being surrounded by Greenwood defenders on Tuesday night.
Sam Findley | For the Daily Journal
An excessive amount of time won’t be required for Center Grove coach Kevin Stuckmeyer to scout his team’s next opponent.
Greenwood’s Justin Bennett can make the same claim.
Both teams concluded their respective regular-season schedules on Tuesday night the same way they open Class 4A sectional play in six days — against each other.
Round 1 favored the Trojans, who ran their win streak to 14 games with a 48-22 triumph over the host Woodmen.
Senior wing Savanna Bischoff led all scorers with 16 points for Center Grove (18-4), which extended another streak by defeating Greenwood for the 11th consecutive time. Junior guard Audrey Annee added 10 points, while guard Aubrie Booker and center Rachel Wirts, both juniors, finished with eight points and five rebounds, respectively.
The same squads square off in a first-round game next Tuesday at Bloomington South.
“We’ve all thought about it,” said Bischoff, who scored nine of her points in the third quarter. “It’s definitely hard to play a team again because you’ve seen their plays and their defense, so (Greenwood) is going to be better at preparing.
“It will definitely be different than playing them right here, but we’re ready.”
Center Grove had its foot on the accelerator from the start in its final regular-season contest, scoring the game’s first 11 points, bolting to a 16-1 advantage and holding a 19-7 lead after one quarter.
Greenwood’s deficit held at 12 points late in the second stanza, but the Trojans closed with five straight to make it a 30-13 score at intermission.
The Trojans were ahead 46-19 through three, and the teams combined for only five points in the fourth as play at times got sloppy.
As is often the case when two outstanding defensive teams meet, shooting percentages were low.
Center Grove finished 17 of 49 from the floor (34.7%) to Greenwood’s 9 of 24 (37.5%), with the teams both collecting 17 rebounds.
Stuckmeyer’s club turned the ball over only three times through three quarters and finished with eight giveaways. The Woodmen hurt themselves with miscues, committing 23 — seven in the second quarter alone.
“I thought we did a good job of transitioning our defense to some offense, and being sharp with the basketball,” Stuckmeyer said. “Once Greenwood went zone, I thought we did a good job of reading the zone, finding gaps and not forcing it when it wasn’t there.
“I just thought our composure was solid at both ends. We did a good job of guarding them defensively, we shared the basketball and did a good job of attacking whatever defense they were giving us.”
Greenwood (8-13) was led by senior forward Ella Stivers with nine points, with senior guard Lily Howe adding eight. Woodmen sophomore forward Emma Gardner finished with a game-high seven rebounds.
