Panthers, Bulldogs split two games

GREENBRIER The Greenwood Lady Bulldogs had a strong fourth quarter and outlasted the Greenbrier Lady Panthers 46-38 Friday night in 5A-West Conference play at Panther Pavilion.

After the first quarter, the Lady Panthers trailed 15-2, making only one of 13 field-goal attempts.

"Early, we were just rushing some things," Greenbrier coach Terry Smith said.

Smith also credited Greenwood's pressuring man-to-man defense for giving Greenbrier early offensive trouble.

"They make it tough on you," Smith said.

Greenbrier's Katy Flippo scored the first two points of the game, but the Lady Bulldogs scored the next 17. Greenbrier got back in the game in the second quarter when Kayle Browning scored five quick points off of assists from Cicely New. Jayme Wilcox and Lauren Rose each added a basket to cut Greenwood's lead to 17-11. Greenwood hit a 3-pointer just before halftime to take a 20-11 lead.

The Lady Panthers answered an improving second quarter with a strong third quarter, thanks in part to a tough man-to-man defense of their own.

Smith said his team had success at Greenwood in a zone defense, but added that the man-to-man defense was what worked Friday night.

"It kind of changed the game," Smith said.

After trading baskets early in the third quarter, Greenbrier went on a 15-3 run.

Greenbrier ended the third quarter in exciting fashion when Calley Livingston scored to make the score 28-26 in favor of Greenwood. The Lady Bulldogs pushed the ball up the court, but Greenbrier forced a turnover and Browning hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Lady Panthers a 29-28 lead.

Greenwood opened the fourth quarter on an 8-2 run. Greenbrier's Shelby Gilmore hit two free throws to cut the Lady Bulldogs' lead to 36-33 with 3:50 left in the game, but the Lady Panthers never got closer.

Browning led Greenbrier with eight points. Gilmore and Katie Bradway each added seven points for the Lady Panthers.

Greenwood's Laura Davidson led all scorers with 19 points.

BOYS

The Greenbrier Panthers broke open a close game at halftime with a 12-0 third quarter run on their way to a 63-42 win against Greenwood.

Greenbrier jumped on the Bulldogs early, taking a 15-5 lead on Jeffrey Coffman's free throws with 2:29 left in the first quarter. Greenwood, however, began a 10-0 run of their own to end the quarter, beginning with Brandon Brewer's 3-pointer on the Bulldogs' ensuing possession.

Coffman had 10 first-quarter points, and fellow guard Jordan Crank stepped up in the second quarter with seven points of his own to match the streaking Bulldogs.

Greenwood led briefly midway through the second quarter, and trailed 29-27 at halftime.

Greenwood again led briefly early in third quarter, when Ethan Robinson hit a 3-pointer, giving the Bulldogs a 30-29 lead. The Panthers, however, scored the next 12 points and never looked back.

"I credit that to our guards," Greenbrier coach Jason Johnson said of his team's offensive execution. "We ran the court well."

Robinson hit his second 3-pointer of the game to cut the Panther's lead to 33-41 with 1:39 left in the third quarter. With under one minute left in the quarter, though, Greenbrier's Matt Velek scored off of an assist from Shane Murray to give the Panthers a double-digit lead. Greenwood would not get any closer.

Velek led all scorers with 17 points. Coffman added 14 for the Panthers.

Robinson led the Bulldogs with nine points.