GREENFIELD — A season marked with multiple successes came to a disappointing end for the Lady Arabians on the basketball court Friday, Feb. 3.
A feisty, aggressive New Castle team dashed the hopes of the Arabians in the 59-45 win in the sectional semifinal at Greenfield-Central High School.
“It was a night where it just wasn’t meant to be,” coach Chad Cook said. “We just couldn’t get it to go in the basket enough.”
Too many missed shots, 16-49 from the field, and not enough rebounds allowed the Trojans to take control of the game.
New Castle guard Cameron Tabor hit from everywhere, scoring 19 points, while Porter, another guard, added 17 but hit several key free throws in the final minute and half to complete the win.
Cook credited the Trojans for making the big plays when the Arabians went on a run for the comeback. Each time the Arabians got New Castle in their sights, the Trojans answered with a run of its own.
At the end of the first quarter, the game was tied at 11, but the Arabians were down by just five at the half when the Trojans led 24-19.
The Trojans went on another 6-0 run in the third quarter, and two quick Arabian fouls following baskets gave the Trojans a 30-19 lead. They extended the lead to 12 midway through the quarter, but a combined scoring effort by seniors Sam Hammel and Kelsey Burton, and an aggressive defense that forced several Trojan turnovers, brought New Castle into sight, ending the third quarter with the Trojans up just 40-36.
“I felt like if we could just get over the hump, we might be able to hang on to it,” Cook said.
The Arabians managed to pull within 3 points, but in the closing minutes, missed shots, and fouls sealed the game for New Castle.
“They did a great job of rebounding on the defensive end,” Cook said. “We didn’t get hardly any offensive rebounds. We missed a lot of shots, and they gathered them in.”
New Castle closed in on Hammel on the inside, but she didn’t let that stop her. Hammel had 23 points, which included five from 3-point range. Burton was a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line and ended the night with 12 points.
Cook was clearly dejected by the loss, but not so much from being out of the tournament; instead, he empathized for his five seniors (Ashley King, Maggie Dooley, Adrienne Phillips, Hammel and Burton), who ended their high school career with such a loss.
“It’s tough,” Cook said. “They’re such a great group of girls. They’ve spent a lot of time in basketball, and you want them to end on a high note. I just feel real bad.”
However, Cook praised both his seniors and the players who will return next season, and he said he’s confident the returning girls will put forth as much effort as those who are moving on.
The Arabians finished the season with a 19-5 record. They won the Madison County championship as well as nabbing the Hoosier Heritage Conference crown.
