Grove City rolls past Thiel 72-54

The Wolverines remain on top of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference standings.

By BILL ALBRIGHT

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

GREENVILLE — Taking care of business. That is what the Grove City Wolverines were busy doing Wednesday night as they downed the Thiel Tomcats, 72-54, in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference men’s basketball game.

The Wolverines (11-6, 5-1) remained on top of the PAC standings, while Thiel fell to 6-10, 2-4.

“It really helps when you shoot the ball well from 3-point range, and when we do that, I believe we could beat anybody,” said GCC coach Steve Lamie. “We distributed the ball well and thanks to guys like Shawn Carr and Luke Tomaselli, we were able to hit them. When you shoot 50 percent, it makes things a little easier.”

The Wolverines strategy became apparent right from the opening tip: Work the shot clock for a good look and make good things happen.

“We know that Thiel runs pretty much the same type of offense we do so we expected a good defensive, low-scoring game,” said Lamie. “We felt that if we get a good shot every time down the floor, we have a good chance to score. Of late, we have been taking quicker shots and not shooting as well percentage-wise so we made it an emphasis of ball control, look for a good shot and we do it much better when we soften the defense.”

The Wolverines never trailed in the game as they gradually built up a 14-point lead before settling for a 12-point lead (35-23) at halftime.

“Give them a lot of credit, but I think Steve would agree with me that was their best game in about a month, especially the way they shot the ball,” said Thiel coach Tim Loomis. “We played them not to shoot the ball that well and pack it in, but they had kids shoot the ball extremely well and that is what put us in a hole in the first half.”

Grove City’s plan of attack didn’t surprise Loomis.

“We told out guys at halftime they were going to run the shot clock down,” said Loomis. “They did a great job of holding the ball once they got that 18-point lead. I told my assistant at the 15-minute mark that if we didn’t go down and get some pressure on them, this game is over. They played smart basketball and they played it really well. I really appreciate the way they played.”

The Wolverines, behind seven points from Shawn Carr (Mohawk), ripped open a 44-23 lead and they never looked back.

Carr, who led all scorers in the game with 19 points, eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career at Grove City.

“I really can’t take all of the credit because I have played with some great guys, and without those guys like Gibby [Ryan Gibson] giving me a lot of good passes, I don’t know if I could have scored a thousand points,” said Carr. “I have worked real hard the past four years, but it hasn’t just been me. It has been the whole team.”

Leading the Tomcats was freshman Tommy Hall (Campbell) with 18 points. Hall also yanked down six rebounds while blocking three shots.

“I thought he [Hall] played well. He played a lot more relaxed,” said Loomis. “I am just not happy with the way we are rebounding the basketball, but that will come.”