Momentum is always a great thing to have entering tournament play. Center Grove has that and then some.
The Trojans (22-1), ranked No. 2 in the latest Class 4A poll, cruised to an easy 70-15 win over Greenwood Tuesday night in their final regular-season game.
Senior night didn’t disappoint.
If Center Grove coach Kevin Stuckmeyer was worried about a letdown after the Trojans beat previous No. 1 Hamilton Southeastern this past Saturday night, he didn’t need to be. The game was over a few minutes into the first quarter when the Trojans raced out to a 20-0 lead before the Woodmen put up a wild shot that went in.
“We were able to send (the seniors) off the right way,” Stuckmeyer said. “It’s a tribute to them and their ability to stay focused on the task at hand. They have been consistent in everything they have done. They do it the right way.”
Center Grove has a week to hone its game even more before taking on Bloomington South next week in the opening round of the Mooresville Sectional.
Momentum?
It was the Trojans’ 15th straight win and third straight with 70 or more points, so there’s no problem hitting the basket.
Center Grove, which has set a school record for regular-season wins, now has a chance to get the most wins since their state championship year of 1995-96 when they finished 25-2.
“The basketball season is a long one, and the body of work they have put together the past two seasons is great,” Stuckmeyer said.
The Trojans had four players in double figures, led by Rachel Wirts’ 19 points. Senior Audrey Annee and junior Lilly Bischoff had 14 each while Ava Grant added 11. Aubrie Booker (nine points) just missed joining them.
Eliana Anderson and Emma Gardner paced the Woodmen (5-16) with four points apiece.
Stuckmeyer also set a coaching record at Center Grove with his fifth 20-win season and fourth with 21 or more wins. His record at Center Grove is 135-44 in seven seasons.
“You want to be playing your best basketball at the end of the year and when you get to the tournament, you want to give yourself a chance to be successful,” Stuckmeyer said. “We’ve come out of the dog days of January. We’re pleased where we are.”
For the Woodmen, who lost for the fourth consecutive game and seventh in the last eight, a Friday road trip to Perry Meridian offers one last chance to get some momentum back before the sectional begins next week. After getting a bye through the first round, the Woodmen will likely be taking on Center Grove once again in a semifinal game.
