Columbus North’s Kenna Conrad takes a shot in Thursday’s game against host Center Grove.
Chris Williams | For The Republic
By James Horne
For The Republic
GREENWOOD —Center Grove has had to find different ways to keep its undefeated streak alive.
This time, it was taking away Columbus North’s corner 3-pointer Thursday night. The Trojans’ defense met the challenge — and Gracyn Gillard’s 34 points certainly helped — in their 58-48 win over the Bull Dogs at Vandermeer Gym.
“They are a very good shooting team, and we knew that coming in,” Gillard said. “So it was just that heightened focus of getting out to their shooters and making them put the ball on the floor.”
The win improved Class 4A No. 3 Center Grove to 17-0.
“Our job is to do it the right way every time out and be consistent”, Center Grove coach Kevin Stuckmeyer said. “And our girls have the maturity to just compete day in and day out in the right way and take care of the process that just leads to those results. Obviously, they’ve done a nice job with that. We’ve had some close grind-it-out wins throughout that and have had to find different ways to win games. But this is a good test because as you move forward, you get to learn who your team is. Our girls have responded the right way each and every time and put themselves in the position to take care of the process.”
It also helps to play good defense when you’re not having one of your best nights shooting. Center Grove went 15-of-43 from the floor, including making 7-of-24 from the 3-point line and going 21-of-28 from the free-throw line.
But the Trojans held North (14-5) to 14-of-36 shooting overall and 7-of-19 from downtown. The Bull Dogs went a perfect 13-of-13 from the charity stripe, and Kaylie Harmon led them with 17 points.
“Kevin is a really good coach,” North coach Brett White said. “He knows what he’s doing and he was prepared. But they did take some things away from us and especially in the first half. We made some adjustments in the second half that allowed us to get some open looks. But really, the first half came down to the fact that we gave them extra possessions with our turnovers and by giving up offensive rebounds. That was really the difference in the game. You can’t spot them 17 points and expect to be successful.”
Center Grove started things by jumping out to an 8-0 lead on MacKenzie Pierce’s 3-pointer with 4:14 left in the first. Anna Karr’s layup with one second left in the first made it the 15-6 quarter-ending score.
The Trojans ramped things up in the second, went on a 12-3 run and went ahead 25-9 on Gillard’s triple with 3:42 to go. They got to the 17-point advantage, and the eventual 33-16 halftime score, on Hannah Gin’s two free throws with 27.5 seconds on the clock.
North was able to get it to 10 points twice in the third quarter, 37-27 with 2:25 left on Avery Johnson’s jumper and 39-29 with 1:01 remaining on Miley McClellan’s runner.
But Gillard sank a traditional three-point play with six seconds left to give Center Grove a 42-29 lead going into the fourth.
Gillard then took over in the fourth and had a hand in every score of a 13-4 run that put the Trojans up 53-33, ending with her two free throws with 2:18 to play.
“We predicated ourselves on making them earn it and taking teams out of what they want to do,” Stuckmeyer said. “Columbus North is a really impressive team and has a lot of pieces that can put the ball in the basket. They are very balanced. So it was important for us to find that balance defensively and not let different players get going. So we had to find those shooters on the back side for sure. “
Harmon finished with 17 points to lead the Bull Dogs. Riley Sims scored eight, and Johnson added seven.
Columbus North’s Miley McClellan takes a shot in Thursday’s game against host Center Grove.
Chris Williams | For The Republic
Columbus North’s Avery Johnson takes a shot in Thursday’s game against host Center Grove.
Chris Williams | For The Republic
Center Grove’s Gracyn Gilliard and Columbus North’s Kenna Conrad battle for the rebound in Thursday’s game at Center Grove.
Chris Williams | For The Republic
Center Grove 58, Columbus North 48
Columbus North;6;10;13;19;—;48
Center Grove;15;18;9;16;—;58
Columbus North (14-5): Kenna Conrad 1 0-0 2, Ava Wilson 1 4-4 6, Riley Sims 2 2-2 8, Sydni Schiefer 1 0-0 2, Kaylie Harmon 5 3-3 17, Miley McClellan 2 2-2 6, Avery Johnson 2 2-2 7, Addy Wheatley 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 13-13 48.
Center Grove (17-0): Lillie Tapak 1 0-0 3, Ella Sprong 0 0-0 0, Hannah Gin 1 2-2 5, Mia Mann 0 2-4 2, Aubree Waltz 0 0-0 0, Anna Kane 1 0-0 2, Lilly Harrier 0 3-4 3, Gracyn Gillard 9 14-17 34, Mackenzie Pierce 3 0-0 9, Kennedy Kemper 0 0-2 0, Haley Wagoner 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 21-29 58.
3-point goals: Columbus North 7 (Harmon 4, Sims 2, Johnson). Center Grove 7 (Pierce 3, Gillard 2, Tapak, Gin).
