BATESVILLE – Greensburg knows it will always be a “Dog” fight – pun intended – when the Pirates face off with rival Batesville in boys basketball. And for 2 ½ quarters Friday night, it was.
BHS closed to within 29-25 on sophomore Cade Kaiser’s drive down the left lane, but just a minute later, the Bucs held a 10-point advantage after three-point plays by Ki Dyer – one traditional, the next more modern. The Bulldogs would outscore the visitors 26-19 down the stretch, but Greensburg held on for the 54-51 victory in the Pirates’ season-opening contest.
Tied at 21 at intermission, Bulldog big man Cole Pride was fouled early when play continued and hit both foul shots. A jumper in the lane from Jack McKinsey retied the game. But a lob to Addison Barnes-Pettit for his first points of the matchup ensured Greensburg’s lead for the remainder of the night. After a steal and score for McKinsey and another Barnes-Pettit bucket (Dyer assist), BHS coach Aaron Garrett asked for timeout at 29-23.
Later, the guests had their first of three 11-point leads at 36-25. Batesville ended the third quarter with four unanswered; Kaiser hit two at the stripe and Gus Prickel swiped a ball for fast-break points when Greensburg was looking to hold for a final shot.
The Bucs got those four back within the opening minute of the fourth. A tip-back by Jeter Edwards and a basket for Dyer made it 40-29. A nice little 6-2 run for the Dogs followed. Junior Jack Grunkemeyer hit from the field, Pride scored on a putback, and Kaiser again went into the rack with his off hand. Garrett called a full timeout at 4:11.
The hosts got even closer after Pride was fouled on a tip-in and completed the 3-point play. But four straight points by Dyer led to another BHS stoppage at 48-38. The Dogs got a follow-up by Grunkemeyer out of the break but Edwards’ drive kept GCHS in control late at 52-42. A 9-2 run for the home team, capped by Sam Johnson’s late triple, produced the more deceiving difference of three points.
Dyer scored the first points of Greensburg’s season to start the game at 2-0. A Pride jump shot at 6:17 was the only other offense until the 3:08 mark of the first frame. Pride and Abe Tebbe (Dyer assist) traded hoops and a Dyer fielder made it 7-4 in favor of the Bucs after one.
Tebbe and Justin Adkins scored early in the next period for the visiting squad, as did McKinsey (assist to Dyer). BHS kept pace with Johnson, Kaiser (from Johnson) and Pride conversions, the latter coming at the foul line. The charities triggered an 8-0 run for the Bulldogs; Kaiser followed in his own miss and Grunkemeyer put in four consecutive points.
At 16-13, the Pirates answered with six of their own – Edwards hit a three and Adkins scored off a loose ball. A 5-2 BHS spurt ended the half as Carson Laker was responsible for three of those.
Dyer led all scorers with 18 and Grunkemeyer topped BHS with 16. Pride added 13 and Kaiser and Edwards a dozen each. Other scoring: Barnes-Pettit and McKinsey 6, Tebbe and Johnson 5, Adkins 4, Laker and GCHS’ Bradley Lutz 3 and Prickel 2.
Greensburg visits Triton Central Friday and Jennings County Tuesday. BHS (1-1) opens conference play at home Friday vs. Lawrenceburg and welcomes Southwestern Hanover Saturday night (Dec. 10).
