Greenfield-Central 60, Perry Meridian 56 (OT)

Cougars rally late, outlast Falcons in overtime thriller

GREENFIELD — In a game that had all the intensity of late February Indiana high schoo basketball, Greenfield-Central delivered in the clutch Wednesday night, knocking off Perry Meridian 60-56 in overtime in a hard-fought non-conference showdown.

The Cougars (25-26) erased a fourth-quarter deficit and dominated the extra session, outscoring the Falcons 10-6 in overtime to secure the four-point victory on their home floor.  Perry Meridian jumped out strong, taking an 18-11 lead after the first quarter and stretching the advantage behind a balanced offensive attack. The Falcons led 23-11 early in the second before Greenfield-Central began to chip away.  The Cougars settled in during the second and third quarters, trimming the margin to 41-42 entering the fourth. Both teams traded blows down the stretch, with Greenfield-Central forcing overtime after a late defensive stand.  In the extra period, the Cougars’ composure proved decisive.

As a team, Greenfield-Central shot 43 percent from the field (20-of-46), knocked down six three-pointers, and converted 14-of-25 free throws. The Cougars also won the rebounding battle 27-21 and committed just nine turnovers in the contest.  Perry Meridian built its early advantage with strong first-half execution, leading 23-16 at halftime and extending the cushion to seven entering the fourth quarter. But the Falcons managed just six points in overtime as Greenfield-Central’s defense tightened.  The Cougars’ ability to respond after a slow start and execute in the extra period showcased their resilience as postseason play approaches.

Clay Mullins paced Greenfield-Central with 15 points, hitting 2-of-4 from three-point range and going 5-of-10 from the free-throw line. He also pulled down seven rebounds and added two assists.  Malachi Van was highly efficient, scoring 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting from the field while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out three assists.