By KEVIN HARRIS
SEYMOUR – The old basketball adage is defense wins
championships.
Floyd Central’s defense got it one step closer to collecting
a title Friday night at Scott Gym.
The Highlanders held Seymour to 17.9 percent field-goal
shooting (5-of-28) in a 44-26 victory in the Class 4A Seymour Sectional
semifinals. Floyd Central (19-4) will face Floyd County rival New Albany (23-3)
in the championship game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Highlanders have not captured a sectional championship
since 1989 when they last reached the Final Four. Floyd Central will be playing
in its first sectional final in 13 years.
“They’re Indiana boys. They’ve been dreaming about this
their entire life,” Highlanders’ head coach Todd Sturgeon said. “I’d like to
think we’re going to come out pistols blazing. We’ll see.”
Simply put, the Owls (9-15) could not hit the broad side of
a barn.
In the first three quarters, Seymour made just three field
goals – one in each of those periods – out of 20 attempts. The Owls failed to
score in double figures in any of the four quarters and had no player reach
double digits. It was the sixth time this season that Floyd has limited an
opponent to a score in the 20s.
“I’m happy to hold them to three field goals in three
quarters,” Sturgeon said. “I was really happy with our half-court defense.”
In addition, Seymour made eight more free throws (13) than
field goals. The Owls ended up 13-of-20 from the line (65 percent).
PLAYER OF THE GAME:
Cobie Barnes, Floyd Central – The sophomore
forward was the lone player in the contest with a double-figure point total
with 10 points.
Plus, Barnes’ athleticism and length played a huge role in
the Highlanders’ splendid defensive effort versus Seymour, especially when
Floyd was in its 1-3-1 trap.
KEY SEQUENCE: The
Highlanders took full control in the third quarter, outscoring the Owls 15-6 in
the period to go up 36-18. Junior Brendon Hobson provided Floyd Central a boost
off the bench in the stanza with six points.
The Highlanders’ 1-3-1 trap was put to great use as Seymour
misfired on nine of 10 field-goal attempts in the third. Plus, the Owls
committed four turnovers in the quarter.
UNSUNG HERO: Tyler
Kimm, Floyd Central – Sturgeon lauded Kimm’s defense on Seymour guard Alan
Perry. Kimm helped hold Perry to a team-high six points after the Owl junior
poured in a game-high 18 points in Seymour’s 54-53 overtime win over
Jeffersonville in the first round Tuesday.
“I thought Tyler Kimm was outstanding,” Sturgeon said. “Perry
is a handful. He took over the Jeff game. Tyler is strong enough against him
that (Perry) couldn’t quite get by him. That might’ve been his defensive game
of the year, especially in a big moment for a senior to step up like that.”
Kimm, who ended up with five points, put an exclamation
point on the huge third quarter by hitting a 3-pointer right before the buzzer.
WHAT FLOYD CENTRAL
DID WELL: Along with their defense, the Highlanders dominated the boards by
outrebounding Seymour 38-17.
Barnes grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Hobson, Kimm and
teammates Matthew Weimer and Luke Gohmann each snagged five.
AREA OF CONCERN FOR FLOYD
CENTRAL: Despite the victory, the Highlanders were pretty cold with their
shooting. Floyd Central shot 16-of-42 from the floor (38.1 percent).
The Highlanders must get some shots to go down Saturday if
they are to beat New Albany and claim that coveted sectional title.
NEXT GAME: vs.
New Albany, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Class 4A Seymour Sectional championship game.
CLASS 4A SEYMOUR
SECTIONAL
SEMIFINAL
FLOYD CENTRAL 44,
SEYMOUR 26
Floyd Central 11 10 15 8-44
Seymour 4 8
6 8-26
Floyd Central (19-4):
Cobie Barnes 10, Trevor Apple 9, Luke Gohmann 8, Brendon Hobson 6, Tyler Kimm
5, Matthew Weimer 4, Evan Nichols 2, Thomas Hibbard 0, Gabe Shireman 0, Levi
Siewert 0, Cam Sturgeon 0, Nick Winchell 0.
Seymour (9-15): Tiller
Cummings 6, Alan Perry 6, Tyler Bloom 5, Ty McCory 3, Jordan Miller 3, Dylan
Wilson 2, Alex Hofer 1, Evens Cribs 0, Max Otte 0.
3-point field goals:
Floyd Central 2 (Gohmann 1, Kimm
1); Seymour 3 (Bloom 1, McCory 1, Perry 1).
Rebounds: Floyd
Central 38 (Barnes 8); Seymour 17 (Bloom
7).
Turnovers: Floyd
Central 9, Seymour 12.
Total fouls:
Floyd Central 17, Seymour 14.
Fouled out: none.
Technical fouls:
Nichols.
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