Seymour’s boys basketball team fell behind early and couldn’t mount a comeback against Class 4A No. 4 Floyd Central on Friday.
The Highlanders opened the game with a double-digit run and never looked back in a 64-34 Hoosier Hills Conference victory against the Owls (6-8, 1-5 HHC).
Floyd Central (15-1, 5-0 HHC) started the game on a 13-0 run behind six points from Cobie Barnes, a basket from Evan Nichols and 3-pointer by Luke Gohmann.
A layup by the Owls’ Tiller Cummings stopped the Highlanders’ momentum with 2:36 on the clock, but the Highlanders would allow just more points in the quarter.
Outscoring the Owls 7-2 in the final two minutes, the Highlanders held a 20-4 advantage after eight minutes of play.
The Owls went on a 7-2 run from the 6:33- to 3:16-mark in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 27-12. In the stretch, Max Otte and Jack Roberts got baskets to go while Ty McCory drilled a 3-pointer.
While Cummings got a layup to fall before the halftime buzzer, the Owls trailed 34-14 at the break.
Back-to-back baskets by Barnes and a free throw by Gohmann extended the Highlanders’ lead to 39-14 with 5:56 left in the third quarter.
While Otte and Cummings each got 3-pointers to fall for the Owls, the Highlanders outscored the visitors 7-6 in the final three minutes of the third to lead 51-21.
Alan Perry scored six of the Owls’ 13 fourth-quarter points, but the deficit was too large for the Owls in the final eight minutes.
Owls coach Tyler Phillips said that the Highlanders are one of best teams he has coached against.
“They have great ball pressure (on defense),” Phillips said. “With as much length as they have, they stay grounded. They change shots and don’t try to block shots. That’s a very, very, good basketball team.”
Cummings led the Owls with nine points and Perry chipped in eight. Barnes topped the Highlanders with 18 points, and nine different Floyd players scored in the game.
The Owls lost the rebounding margin 35-18 and turnover differential 14-6.
Seymour will next host Madison on Thursday.