Center Grove Pulls Away Late to Defeat Greenwood

GREENWOOD — On a frigid night in Indiana, a strong second-half push helped Center Grove turn a tight game into a comfortable win as the Lady Trojans topped host Greenwood 46–27 in girls high school basketball action.

Center Grove (21 – 0) led 13–9 after the first quarter and held a narrow 33–15 halftime advantage, but a decisive third-quarter run broke the game open. The Trojans outscored the Lady Woodmen (1 – 20) 18–5 in the third period to build an insurmountable lead heading into the final frame.

Balanced scoring and timely shooting fueled Center Grove’s offense. Gracyn Gilliard led the way with a game-high 31 points, knocking down 11 field goals, including five from behind the arc, and going 4-for-5 at the free-throw line. MacKenzie Pierce added 12 points drilling four 3’s.  Strong guard play helped Center Grove maintain control and limit Greenwood’s scoring opportunities throughout the second half.

Greenwood battled early and kept things close in the opening quarter behind solid inside play.  Josie Fiesel paced the Woodmen with 16 points, hitting five field goals and going 6-for-8 from the free-throw line.  However, Greenwood struggled to find consistent offense after halftime, managing just eight points across the third and fourth quarters combined. Center Grove’s defensive pressure forced turnovers and limited second-chance opportunities, allowing the Trojans to steadily extend their lead.