AUSTIN — The run started innocently enough — a simple layup by Casey Regruth on a nifty Andrew Levine feed — but it quickly grew into the best stretch of basketball played by Seymour’s boys basketball team this season.
When Regruth knocked down a free throw four-plus minutes later, it completed a 21-0 run by the Owls that turned an 11-8 lead into an eye-opening 32-8 cushion.
Seymour went on to beat Austin, 69-40, but it was hard to think of anything besides that game-changing second-quarter run.
The Owls scored 26 points in the second period, bettering their best offensive quarter of season (23 twice, vs. Columbus East and Franklin). Their 37 first-half points easily exceeded their best first half (31 vs. Salem).
Seymour’s final output — 69 points — likewise was a season-best (previously 65 vs. East) and, in fact, is the highest point total scored by the Owls in Kirk Manns’ two seasons as head coach.
Passing and shooting were the story for Seymour, which made 15 of its 22 first-half shots (68 percent) and ended the game shooting 59 percent from the floor (29 for 49).
Sophomore Landon Fritsch led all scorers with 17 points, including hitting three 3-pointers and scoring 11 points during the Owls’ second-quarter surge.
Regruth followed with 13 points, while sophomore Eli Meyer ended with 11 points.
Jennifer Regruth | For The Tribune
Of the Owls’ 29 field goals, 19 of them were assisted in Seymour’s best passing performance of the year. Regruth finished with a team-high five assists, followed by Levine’s four. Charlie Longmeier and Meyer each added three assists.
Levine was an energy player for the Owls the entire game. In addition to his passing, he finished with 6 rebounds and 7 points.
Seymour enjoyed a 32-18 advantage on the boards, with junior Marcus Brooks grabbing a game-high eight rebounds.
Friday’s contest was the Owls’ first in the last 10 days, with two scheduled games getting cancelled by inclement weather. The impressive showing improves Seymour’s season record back to the .500 level at 9-9.
Austin fell to 3-13 on the season. The victory give Seymour is sixth win over the Eagles in their last seven meetings.
Friday’s game also ended an extended run of six straight road games for the Owls, who went 3-3 during that stretch. Seymour started the season 1-3 in away games, but held its own on this six-game string by earning wins at Scottsburg and at Madison (in overtime).
Seymour’s next four games are at home, starting with today’s contest versus Sheridan (2:30 p.m. varsity/1 p.m. junior varsity). The game with the Blackhawks is a late addition to the schedule that was finalized by the schools Thursday.
Located about 30 minutes north of Indianapolis, Sheridan competes at the Class 2A level and carries a 11-7 record into today’s contest.
At Austin
Seymour 69, Austin 40
Seymour;11;26;12;20;—69;
Austin;6;11;10;13;—40;
Seymour (9-9): Landon Fritsch 6 2-2 17, Casey Regruth 5 2-3 13, Eli Meyer 5 1-3 11, Marcus Brooks 4 0-2 8, Charlie Longmeier 3 1-1 7, Andrew Levine 3 0-0 7, Donovyn Thomas 2 0-0 4, Bret Perry 1 0-0 2, Dylan Fields 0 0-0 0, Will Cottrill 0 0-0 0, Evan Smith 0 0-0 0, Totals 29 6-11 69.
Austin (3-13): Brysen Montgomery 5 2-5 15, Peyton Gwin 5 1-1 11, Brandon Rice 2 1-3 6, Gavin Parker 1 1-1 3, Brayden Furnish 1 0-0 3, Brenden Mosier 0 2-2 2, Gabe Bowling 0 0-0 0, Brady Watts 0 0-0 0, Garrison Barton 0 0-0 0, Jacob Campbell 0 0-0 0, Jaxon Conkler 0 0-0 0, Cameron Richey 0 0-0 0, Totals 14 7-12 40.
3-point goals: Seymour 5 (Fritsch 3, Regruth, Levine), Austin 5 (Montgomer 3, Rice, Furnish).
Rebounds: Seymour 32 (Brooks 8, Levine 6, Regruth 5, Fritsch 3, Fields 3, Meyer 2, Longmeier 2, Cottrill, Team 2), Austin 18 (Montgomery 5, Mosier 3, Gwin 2, Parker 2, Bowling 2, Rice, Watts, Richey, Team 1).
Fouls: Seymour 20, Austin 16.
Junior Varsity
Seymour 46, Austin 42
Seymour: Donovyn Thomas 17, Evan Smith 10, Jack Pennington 9, Will Cottrill 8, Josh Rennekamp 2.