Photo by Cameron Roseman | McConnellsburg’s Walker Funk attempts a three against Greencastle’s Adam Root.

McCONNELLSBURG – The Greencastle boys basketball team scored early and often to stifle McConnellsburg, posting a 68-41 win in a non-league contest.

Photo by Cameron Roseman | Greencastle’s Adam Murr (2) looks for an open teammate while being guarded by McConnellsburg’s Walker Funk (23). 

For the first time this season, G-A came out in a 1-3-1 zone defense, and the Spartans were only able to muster five points in the first period.

“The starts were killing us, and we needed to do something different,” G-A coach Rick Lewis said.

The adjusted defense helped the Blue Devils build a 13 point lead at halftime, and they outscored the Spartans 40-26 in the second half.

“Greencastle moved the ball well, and had a really good transition game,” McConnellsburg coach Josh Lowery said. “Once they start scoring, they just open up the floodgates.”

Photo by Camerson Roseman | Greencastle’s Riley Gembe (10) rejects McConnellsburg’s Wyatt Hershey’s (11) shot. 

Thomas Lewis dropped 20 points for the Blue Devils, and Adam Murr contributed 16. McConnellsburg was led by Zander Sipes with 15, and Wyatt Hershey chipped in 10.
“Sipes shot the ball really well tonight,” Lowery said. “I was really pleased with him.”

Greencastle’s 68 points are the most the team has scored all season.

“We ran really well, and had a lot of backdoor cuts,” Lewis said. “Overall, what we thought we could be, we’re starting to see now. We feel like we are playing well, and are on the right trajectory.”

Photo by Cameron Roseman | Greencastle’s Adam Root (25) tries to get past McConnellsburg’s Kyle Romig (25) and Zander Sipes (0). 

Greencastle (2-8) will return to the hardwood on Jan. 8 when they travel to Gettysburg in another non-league game. McConnellsburg (2-6) will look to improve their record Jan. 6 against Hyndman.

“We’re going to work on having a better presence offensively and defensively, and move the ball a little more,” Lowery said.

GREENCASTLE 68, McCONNELLSBURG 41
GREENCASTLE
Bobby Emberson 3 0-0 6, Adam Murr 6 3-4 16, JT English 1 0-0 3, Riley Gembe 3 3-4 9, Ethan Shank 0 0-0 0, Thomas Lewis 7 2-2 20, Adam Root 3 2-2 8, Zach Cole 1 0-0 2, Jackson Wright 2 0-0 4. Totals 26 10-12 68.
MCCONNELLSBURG 
Landon Ramsey 0 0-0 0, Wyatt Hershey 3 2-2 10, Kyle Romig 0 0-0 0, Zander Sipes 6 0-0 15, Walker Funk 3 0-0 9, Gerald Walker 0 0-0 0, Garrett Bunch 1 0-0 2, Xavier Buterbaugh 2 0-0 , Dayton Gress 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 2-2 41.
Greencastle        12 16 20 20 — 68
McConnellsburg 5 10 16 10 –41
Three-point goals: McC 9 (Sipes 3, Funk 3, Hershey 2, Buterbaugh); GA 6 (Lewis 4, Murr, English).