Scottsburg accomplished a rare feat when it handed Seymour’s red-hot boys basketball team a 45-39 loss on Saturday night.
The Owls (12-4) hadn’t lost since December, were riding their first six-game win streak in 17 years and had won 10 of their last 11 games.
Scottsburg (12-4) interrupted all of that by making the most of its decided height advantage. With four 6-foot-4 or taller starters, the Warriors clogged the lane with a long-armed 1-3-1 zone defense and forced Seymour, with just one starter over 6-foot-2, to settle for outside shots.
That strategy worked. The Owls took a season-high 20 3-point shots. When they were able to work the ball inside, the Warriors blocked four shots and altered numerous others.
“We won’t be successful shooting 20 3-pointers,” Seymour head coach Kirk Manns said. “We couldn’t break down their zone defense. In the first half, we were stagnant and didn’t have a lot of movement. We were stale offensively. We couldn’t get anything going. And then the slow start in the third quarter really put us behind the eight ball and made it tough to get back into it.”
A 3-pointer by Parker Thompson gave Seymour a 16-15 lead with 1:45 to go in the second period, but the Owls scored just three points during the game’s next 10 minutes. Scottsburg went on a 17-3 run during that stretch to take a commanding 32-19 lead into the fourth quarter.
A free throw and a layup by the Warriors’ Jack Miller increased the visitors’ lead to 36-22 with six minutes left when Seymour’s outside shooting came to life.
Bret Perry and Brady Harpe each knocked down three 3-pointers in the final period, cutting the gap to a single possession at 42-39 with 1:40 left.
“We fought,” Manns said. “Late in the game, our guys did a good job relocating and getting some opportunities. We cut it to three points, but they were content to spread it out and we started having to foul. They made their free throws, and we were out of options at that point.”
Scottsburg drained more than a minute from the clock before the Owls started fouling. In the final 30 seconds, Miller and Kody Clancy combined to make three of four foul shots to put the game out of reach.
Perry (16 points) and Harpe (nine) led Seymour’s scorers. Jaylan Johnson followed with eight points. Scottsburg ended with three double-digit scorers, led by Clancy’s 14. Miller added 13, while Wyatt Zellers had 11.
Despite the end of their losing streak, the Owls have a lot to play for in the coming week. On Friday, they host Floyd Central with a chance to claim the program’s first Hoosier Hills Conference title.
“A loss usually gets the guys’ attention,” Manns said. “I expect that we’ll have everyone’s full attention this week as we prepare for Floyd Central.”
Seymour currently sports a 4-1 HHC record and sits atop the conference standings. Three other teams, Bedford North Lawrence, New Albany and Jeffersonville, also have a single loss.
A win over Floyd Central would guarantee a share of the title for the Owls. The last conference title won by Seymour was the 1994 South Central Conference title.
“We have to have a good week of preparation and continue to get better,” Manns said. “That’s the thing about this time of year. You have to keep getting better. You have to keep growing. If we can do that this week, I like our chances.”
Scottsburg 45, Seymour 39
Scottsburg;5;16;11;13;—;45
Seymour;6;10;3;20;—;39
Scottsburg (12-4): Kody Clancy 5 3-3 14, Jack Miller 4 4-7 13, Wyatt Zellers 4 0-0 11, Caden Richardson 2 0-0 4, Dare Bowles 1 0-0 3, Garrett Boling 0 0-0 0, Totals 16 7-10 45.
Seymour (12-4): Bret Perry 6 0-0 16, Brady Harpe 3 0-0 9, Jaylan Johnson 3 2-2 8, Parker Thompson 1 0-0 3, Ethan Silcox 1 0-0 3, Michael Brooks 0 0-0 0, Evan Unterseher 0 0-0 0, Totals 14 2-2 39.
3-point goals: Scottsburg 6 (Zellers 3, Bowles, Miller, Clancy), Seymour 9 (Perry 4, Harpe 3, Thompson, Silcox)
Rebounds: Scottsburg 19 (Miller 6), Seymour 17 (Perry 4, Brooks 3, Johnson 3, Harpe, Thompson, Unterseher, Team 4)
Turnovers: Scottsburg 7, Seymour 7
Fouls: Scottsburg 8, Seymour 14
Junior varsity
Seymour 42, Scottsburg 33
Seymour (7-9): Nate Fritsch 14, Charlie Rockey 11, Jake Dowell 6, Nolan Bartels 6, Max Coates 4, Traysean Hawkins 1