For the Daily Journal
MOORESVILLE — At least once a year, the Greenwood boys basketball team likes to provide some heroics and win games they seemed certain to lose.
Friday night was one of those times.
Down 17 at one point, the Woodmen quickened the pace on offense and also used their speed on defense to come back and beat host Mooresville, 56-54.
Two clutch free throws from junior Braydon Kincaid with 31 seconds helped clinch it.
Last year, the Woodmen came back from 25 points down to beat host Decatur Central. They used pretty much the same formula Friday, but this win was sweeter for three reasons.
One, it has been 10 years since the Woodmen have beaten the Pioneers on the road. Two, Greenwood (11-10) moved another step closer to a winning season, which it hasn’t accomplished since the 2005-06 season.
Three, the game plan designed by Greenwood coach Bruce Hensley during the second half and especially the final 1:40 worked according to plan.
“We defended well and took care of the ball,” Hensley said. “We were so lethargic in the first half and it was hard to watch, but in the second half we played with heart and also picked it up.
“It’s what you want to do.”
In that first half, Greenwood was outscored by the Pioneers 34-20.
The hustle board was coming up Mooresville as the home club was getting everything — shots, rebounds, loose balls and the breaks.
Hensley knew things would have to change, but knew his team was capable of coming back.
“We just hadn’t done it yet this season,” Hensley said. “The guys though knew and understood the pace had to be picked up and we needed to get possessions.”
After the Pioneers took a 17-point lead early in the third, Greenwood started whittling away the lead and playing with more poise.
Helping matters was a burst of five points in a span of 12 seconds on a basket, steal and three-point play. After that, the Woodmen continued to roll.
With the score tied and 1:40 left, Hensley elected to freeze the ball, and the Woodmen did an outstanding job of passing and dribbling until Kincaid was fouled.
Mooresville still had plenty of time to score, but for some reason, no timeout was called. The Woodmen’s defense stifled the Pioneers and they got no shot off in the final 31 seconds of play.
“We have guys who can handle the ball and play defense,” Hensley said. “We made it exciting.”
Greenwood was led by Eric Moenkhaus with 16 points. Jeff Reynolds added 14 points, Kincaid had 12 and Adam Rapp added 10.
Greenwood (11-10) plays host to Johnson County rival Indian Creek on Tuesday night.
