CROTHERSVILLE
Before the season started, Crothersville boys basketball coach Greg Kilgore joked he thought his junior class might be a bit better than his seniors.
On Friday night, Kilgore and the Tiger faithful sent their 2020 seniors off during their final game at Crothersville High School and it was their juniors that carried the day as the Tigers hung on for 60-56 win over Austin.
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It’s the first time the Tigers have beaten their rivals from just down the road in 11 tries after Cable Spall sank two free throws to seal the win.
Though they led the whole way, the Tigers were never allowed to be comfortable. Crothersville’s largest lead was nine, which they achieved early in the second quarter, but Austin dogged them over the next 24 minutes to make the Tigers earn their 12th win of the year.
Clutch free-throw shooting paved the way for success for the Tigers, hitting all but two of their freebies in the final stanza.
The Tigers were 21-for-27 for the game while the Eagles shot just 9 of 18 from the charity stripe.
Both teams did their best 3-point contest impressions, trading long ball after long ball not letting either team getting too far away.
The Tigers drilled six 3-pointers in the first half alone, but the Eagles replicated each and every one to keep themselves in the ballgame.
Crothersville was fortunate to end the first half out in front due to countless turnovers. The Tigers coughed the ball up 14 times in the opening 16 minutes, but the Eagles were never able to turn them into points.
Quinten Keasler and senior Kaedon Bright led the charge for the Tigers with 14 points each. Spall added 12, Thomas chipped in seven and both Ethan Shirley and Jayden Walls rounded out the scoring with six each.
In junior varsity action, the Tigers battled but fell to the Eagles 53-42.
Austin scored 22 points in the first quarter, but went cold in the second and third thanks to the Tigers’ defense. Yet, the Eagles found their energy again and outpaced the Tigers 17-7 in the final stanza.
Zach Helt led the charge with 16 points, Damian Bowman scored eight, Jacob Moeller had seven, Zerik Hunt netted six and Matt Clouse had five.
The Tigers drew the first round bye in the sectional tournament and will face the winner of the Trinity Lutheran and Edinburgh game. Those two teams tipoff on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Edinburgh High School.