Greene County Daily World: High School Sports: Thunderbirds grab win over Owen Valley

Eastern Greene forward Zack Johnson (40) tries to get a shot off against several Owen Valley defenders during a high school boys basketball game at Spencer Tuesday night. (By B.J. Hargis/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

Davis Russell scored 22 points and J.T. Yoho 15 to lead the Eastern Greene Thunderbirds past Owen Valley 65-58 Tuesday night at Spencer.

It was the first win by the Thunderbirds over their hosts in six years.

After falling behind to start the contest, Russell, Tyler Igel, Zach Johnson and Yoho combined to force a 12-all deadlock at the end of the first quarter.

Russell hit a 3-pointer and deuce, Igel scored after an EG steal, Yoho made a foul-line jumper and Johnson nailed a trey from the right wing with less than two seconds remaining.

The tide shifted back in favor of the Patriots as they outscored Eastern Greene 18-14 in the second quarter to reclaim the lead at the break.

But it was the third quarter that got the Thunderbirds rolling and the fourth quarter where they finished strong.

EG hit seven straight shots, three from beyond the arc, and took control 46-45 with eight minutes to play.

The Thunderbirds dropped another trio of treys in the final stanza to pad their margin.

Eastern Greene won the junior varsity game 43-35. Nathan Cobine led the T-Birds with 10 points. Nate Higgins and Brody Martin scored eight each, Blake Crowd had seven, Jake Hash six and Zach Bruner added four.

Eastern Greene will open up play in the Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference at 6 p.m. Saturday when they play at Bloomfield, who defeated Union (Dugger) in its season-opener Wednesday night.

EASTERN GREENE (65) -- Zack Johnson 4-8 1-1 9, Davis Russell 7-10 5-9 22, Zach Ingram 0-0 2-3 2, J.T. Yoho 6-16 1-2 15, Tyler Igel 4-6 0-0 9, Cody Sparks 2-9 0-2 6, Logan Hash 0-1 0-0 0, Miles Hutchison 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 24-52 9-17 65.

OWEN VALLEY (58) -- Cody Vest 9-14 4-4 22, Sean Hollows 6-11 0-0 15, Aaron White 2-6 0-1 4, Jarrod Gilstrap 3-5 0-0 6, Woody Worland 3-5 0-0 8, Kaleb Oldham 0-0 0-0 0, Dylan Christenberry 1-3 0-0 3, Ethan Hoadley 0-2 0-1 0. Totals 24-46 4-6 58.

Eastern Greene 12 14 20 19 -- 65

Owen Valley 12 18 15 13 -- 58

3-pointers -- Eastern Greene 8 (Yoho 2, Sparks 2, Igel 1, Russell 3), Owen Valley 6 (Hollows 3, Worland 2, Christenberry 1). Fouls -- Eastern Greene 11, Owen Valley 15. Fouled out -- None.