By Levi Cressler
The Shippensburg Greyhounds (12-1, 8-0 MPC) finished off a stretch of three games in four days with a 77-58 triumph over the visiting Greencastle Antrim Blue Devils. In what was a packed gym on Youth Night and a crowd dressed in black to recognize Four Diamonds and the quest to overcome pediatric cancer on Friday night.

The Greyhounds raced out to a 21-10 lead after one with senior guard Jeremy Thomas leading the way with ten first quarter points. As the half wore on the Greyhounds saw their lead get to as large as 14 with a series of transition layups and short field goal makes in the paint. Eli Sterling did his best to keep the Blue Devils (7-10, 4-8 MPC) within striking distance with 12 first half points. Shippensburg guard Erby Weller continued his hot play with 11 first half points of his own.

The second half saw more of the same as they Greyhound lead never got smaller than ten points despite the best efforts of Blue Devils sophomore Connor Wright. Wright erupted for 16 second half points, on his way to a team game high 22. In the end, the Greyhounds depth and athleticism proved too much for the young Blue Devils to overcome.

When asked about Weller’s 15 point performance, Greyhound coach Ray Staver had this to say, “ Erby came out of football season with an injury and that set him back this preseason.” Staver added, “ I think he’s hit his stride now as he’s become better on both ends of the floor.”

Shippensburg got rebounding season highs from both Carter Funk (7 rebounds) and Trey Kater (8 rebounds). “Carter played really well tonight,” according to Staver. Shippensburg also put five guys into double figures for the first time all year.

The Greyhounds head to Boiling Springs Monday night to take on the Bubblers, who will enter the game having won 7 of their last 9 games. The Bubblers are led by their programs all time leading scoring Trey Martin. “He’s a great scorer and we have to prevent him from having a parade to the foul line.”

Prior to the start of the game, Shippensburg guard Jayden Statum was presented a basketball from Craig VanScyoc. As a 2008 graduate of SASHS, VanScyoc held the schools scoring record until Statum scored point number 1,259 last week versus Waynesboro.

SHIPPENSBURG (77)
Statum 8. 0-2 16, Kater 3 2-2 10, Eddy 2 0-0, Weller 7 0-2 15, Funk 5 1-2 11, Thomas 9 2-2 21, Chamberlin 1 0-0 2.  Totals: 34 5-12 77
GREENCASTLE (58)
Emerson 0 1-2 1, Sterling 7 3-5 18, Solomon 3 0-0 6, C. Wright 9 3-4 22, J. Wright 1 0-1 2, Kerns 2 0-0 4, Shadoan 1 2-2 5. Totals 23 9-14 58

SHIPPENSBURG 21  20  16  20- 77
GREENCASTLE 10  17  14  17- 58
Three-point shots: Shippensburg 4 ( Kater 2, Weller, Thomas) Greencastle 3 ( Sterling, C. Wright, Shadoan.)