While the final result didn’t sway in its favor, Trinity Lutheran’s boys basketball team put together one of its most complete performances over the weekend.
Greenwood Christian Academy edged the Cougars 66-65 Saturday while a blizzard raged outside the doors of the Bollinger Athletic Complex.
In a foul-plagued first quarter, the visitors got the upper hand.
The Cougars exchanged the lead three times until GCA used a 5-0 run to go up 12-8 with 3:36 on the clock.
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A basket and free throws by Josh Rowe cut into Trinity’s deficit, but the Cougars trailed 18-12 at the end of one.
The teams combined for 11 fouls in the opening eight minutes.
Trinity went on a 13-6 run through the first five minutes of the second quarter on a pair of 3-pointers by Tyler Goecker and a trey by Mitchell Hackman.
Up 27-26 with 2:24 left in the half, the Cougars made four of eight free throw attempts to hang on to the lead.
At the break, Trinity led 31-28.
The Cougars opened the second half on a 9-3 run, behind seven points by Goecker, to lead 40-31 with 6:39 on the clock.
The visitors answered with a 9-3 run before a pair of free throws by Goecker put Trinity on top 46-40.
In the final 1:40 of the period, GCA scored seven unanswered points to retake the lead at 47-46.
Jack Marksberry hit a free throw and a 3-pointer to put the Cougars up 50-49, but GCA answered with a mini 6-0 run.
Down 59-54, with 2:04 remaining, a Trinity turnover resulted in an and-one by GCA 6-4 forward Champ McCorkle.
In the final 14 seconds, the Cougars nearly equalized.
After a basket by Josh Rowe, with 6.1 ticks remaining, A.J. Goecker stole an inbound pass and drained a 3-pointer to pull within one at 66-65.
With two seconds left, GCA threw the ball down the court and time expired.
Marksberry led the Cougars with 21 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, and Tyler Goecker chipped in 17.
"The boys were disappointed, but they felt like it was one of the better games they’ve played against one of the better teams they’ve played," Trinity coach Brian Stuckwisch said.
McCorkle led GCA with 27 points and Andrew Anderson added 16.
Trinity had nine turnovers in the contest, but pulled down just 23 rebounds.
"(GCA)had a lot of length," Stuckwisch said. "They out-sized us at every position. It didn’t bother (us). They played aggressive. I’m proud of the way they played tonight."
The Cougars will travel to sectional foe Crothersville Friday.
"It think he chemistry is coming together," Stuckwisch said. "we want to peak by sectional time. We’ve had a lot of different things happen this year. We’ve had a lot of lineups, and we’re figuring things out. Hopefully we can build off this one."