CROTHERSVILLE
When it comes to offensive average, no one comes close to the South Decatur boys basketball team.
The Class 2A No. 4 Coguars, who score close to 90 points a game hit their average for the season, winning the cat fight with the Crothersville Tigers 93-64, yet it wasn’t easy despite the lopsided score.
Crothersville made the Cougars work for their points, especially in the second quarter.
After trailing 21-14 at the end of the first period, the Tigers went on a 6-0 run to start the second.
South Decatur regrouped, but wasn’t able to score their first bucket of the second stanza until the 4 minute and 50 second mark.
Yet, once they saw that shot fall, the flood gates opened.
The Cougars went on a 6-0 run to cushion their advantage until Crothersville senior Josh Thomas knocked down two free throws for an answer.
However, Thomas was about the only answer the Tigers had for South Decatur as the visitors went on a 17-4 run to end the first half.
The blitz by the Cougars continued well into the second half as they outscored the Tigers 46-33.
Turnovers, too, hurt the Tigers as they coughed it up countless times without the aid of the Cougars’ pressure. Several times Crothersville would be inbounding the ball and simply throw it out of bounds.
Still, the game was a good learning experience for the Tigers, who won’t play a tougher team this season unless they make a deep run in the state tournament.
Cable Spall led the Tigers with 24 points while Thomas added 18. Jayden Walls also scored in double figures with 12. Quinten Keasler added eight and Ethan Shirley scored two to round out the Tiger scoring.
In junior varsity action, the Tigers needed an extra period to down the Cougars 72-65.
Multiple Tiger players scored in double figures with Zach Helt leading the charge with 21 points. Jacob Moeller was right behind him with 19, Matt Clouse added 14 and Damian Brown tallied 12.
Derrick Deaton rounded out the Tiger JV scoring with six.
The Tigers travel to sectional rival West Washington on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. tilt. Crothersville won last season’s regular season matchup, but fell in the sectional final 53-41.