Greenwood was able to compete with one of Region 4’s hottest teams for a quarter, but Barren County ultimately proved to be too much for the Gators on Tuesday night at Greenwood High School.
The Gators led 15-13 over the Trojans after the first quarter but were then held to just seven points in the second and six in the third to suffer a 61-48 loss. Barren County earned double-digit performances from three different players and has now won seven straight games.
Will Bandy and Garrett Arterburn each scored 13 points for the Trojans (15-9 overall, 11-4 Region 4), while Jared Coomer finished with a double-double of 12 points and 18 rebounds. Barren County outrebounded Greenwood 54-24 and had a 21-8 advantage in second chance points.
“Our ball movement is better,” Barren County coach Warren Cunningham said of the way his team is playing right now. “We kinda whip it from side-to-side a little bit faster. I think we’ve cleaned some things up. Our rotation is a little bit better. We’ve made some shots – we didn’t make as many tonight – but we’ve made some shots.
“Our guys are playing with confidence. I think when you win one or two, they get back to what we’re used to. I think our guys are playing with a lot of confidence. I just think the biggest thing offensively is our ball movement and being able to get some good shots.”
The two sides exchanged baskets throughout the opening quarter.
Greenwood (11-12, 8-10) led 9-8 at the 4:10 mark, but Bandy converted an and-one to give Barren County an 11-9 lead with 3:11 remaining in the first. Noah Nash’s pull-up jumper just before the buzzer gave the Gators a 15-13 advantage after one.
Barren County was the aggressor in the ensuing period, as it opened it with a quick 7-0 run to go up 20-15 at the 5:25 mark. A three by Jack Roberts helped Greenwood cut its deficit to one, but the Trojans used another surge to go into the locker room leading 28-22.
“Roberts and (Luke) Littrell can really score the ball, but we just closed down on them tonight,” Coomer said.
Bandy was already up to his 13 points and eight rebounds at the break, while Parker Stephens had five points. Barren only shot 10-of-33 from the field in the first half and committed seven turnovers, but its defense held the Gators to just seven points in the second.
Barren County really found its groove in the second half.
“We just kept sharing the ball in the second half,” Coomer said. “Everyone was just making shots and it helped the lead grow.”
Four straight points by Gavin Withrow to open the third quarter gave Barren a double-digit advantage of 35-24. Arterburn then went on a run of his own, scoring five straight to put the Trojans up 40-26 for their largest lead of the contest.
By outscoring Greenwood 17-6 in the third, Barren County held a 45-28 lead entering the fourth.
Greenwood opened the final quarter with a Roberts three and Ben Carroll’s and-one, but it still trailed 49-34 with 6:07 left. Coomer’s one-handed slam dunk on a baseline drive put Barren County up 13, and it was able to stay in front the rest of the way.
“It felt pretty good,” said Coomer of his throwdown. “Good way to close the game.”
Carroll carried Greenwood with 16 points, while Roberts tallied 12.
Senior writer Tyler Mansfield can be reached at mansfield.sportingtimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @_TylerMansfield.
