Greenville drops close game to Eaton

We’re looking at the second half of the season where we can make a good run ... Coach Matt Hamilton

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Greenville sophomore Isaac Kerg drives to the basket to lead the Wave in non-conference matchup with Eaton Eagles. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

GREENVILLE – The Green Wave took a 41-38 lead to the fourth quarter but watched the lead slip away with the Eaton Eagles pulling out a 60-57 non-conference win.

“We’re looking at a missed basket here, and a breakdown defensively point – we’re close,” said Greenville coach Matt Hamilton. “We’re looking at the second half of the season where we can make a good run.”

The game stats were close, with both teams making nine 3-pointers. Greenville was one better, with 12 2-point field goals compared to the Eagles’ 11. The difference came at the free-throw line, where Eaton made 11-17 for 65 percent shooting while the Wave made 6-12, good for 50 percent at the line.

Johnny Barr puts up a jumper for Greenville in Saturday night non-conference game with Eaton. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

Eaton took the opening period 9-7 and the second quarter 18-15, sending the teams to the break with the Eagles holding a 27-22 advantage.

Greenville battled back with 19 third-quarter points paced by sophomore Isaac Kerg’s nine points, including his second and third 3-pointers of the night, while solid team defense was holding the visitors to 11 points, giving the Green Wave a three-point advantage with one-quarter to play.

Eaton saved its largest quarter for the fourth, taking the period 22-15 to earn a three-point win.

Drew Hamilton goes strong to the basket for a Greenville score in non-conference game with Eaton. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

“The coaching staff and I are trying to build a program,” said Coach Hamilton. “You’re seeing it with the freshmen competing; the JV is competing, we’re competing, so it’s coming together. We can look back; five games in a row now, we’re looking at individual possessions, but I would much rather have that than get blown out of the gym. The community sees that, they want to see a team and program compete, and we are going to do that. I am proud of the guys.”

Owen Mcgreevey goes to the free-throw line for Greenville in home game with Eaton. (Gaylen Blosser photo)

Greenville sophomore Isaac Kerg came up from the JV squad to get a start at guard and didn’t disappoint in leading the Wave with 14 points.

“He has some natural abilities at the point guard level that we need and rounded out the team we need positionally,” Hamilton said of Kerg. “He’s a competitor, he’s a tough kid.”

BOXSCORE:

EATON 60, GREENVILLE 57

EATON – C. Bach 20, A. Rogers 20, N. Schmidt 8, K. Keating 6, T. Davis 6 – TOTALS 11 11-17 9 60

GREENVILLE – I. Kerg 14, D. Hamilton 12, O. Mcgreevey 9, J. Barr 8, M. McMahon 6, L. Hocker 4, D. Conway 4 – TOTALS 12 6-12 9 57

3-POINTERS

Eaton 9 (K. Keating 2, C. Bach 2, A. Rogers 2, T. Davis 2, N. Schmidt 1)
Greenville 9 (I. Kerg 3, D. Hamilton 2, M. McMahon 2, O. Mcgreevey 1, L. Hocker 1)

SCORE by QUARTERS

09-18-11 22 60 Eaton
07-15-19-15 57 Greenville