By Jim Mashek – Sporting Times
Photos by Marlow Hazard – Sporting Times
Freshman point guard Leia Trinh and sophomore forward Kayla Grant made it a point in the Greenwood huddle during its KHSAA 14th District Tournament semifinal game against Warren Central on Wednesday night.
Win, or pack it in.
No problem. Greenwood guard Jacqueline Jackson scored a game-high 13 points and Grant finished with 12 as the Lady Gators outlasted Warren Central 39-30 at Bowling Green High School.
“I think we had a lot of nerves in the first half,” Grant said. “It was a little rough. But we got together, at the half, and during time-outs, and we knew this could be our last game if we didn’t start playing better.”
Greenwood improved to 15-10 on the season and will face No. 1 seed Bowling Green on Friday evening. Tip-off will be at 6 p.m.
“We’re just grateful to get another chance to play,” said Trinh, who moved into the starting lineup while in middle school. “We took better care of the ball, in the second half, and made better decisions with it.”
Greenwood coach Zach Simpson said his team has emphasized closing out games this season, and that’s exactly what the Gators did against Warren Central.
“We’ve decided not to go into the locker room at halftime,” Simpson said. “We’ll meet, in the quarter of the gym, and get back on the court to take some shots at the other basket for the second half.
“The third quarter is so critical to the high school game. I told our girls to enjoy it, to celebrate tonight. Back to work on the practice floor on Thursday.”
Kaylyn Keener led Warren Central with 14 points.
