By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
GREENFIELD – For the third time in the last four seasons, Guerin Catholic was looking to win a regional and head back to semi-state. But this time it would be the George Washington Continentals trying to stop the Golden Eagles.
Last Saturday afternoon, there would only be one group of fans decked out in purple celebrating a regional championship. That group was Guerin and its fans that filled half of Greenfield-Central’s Dellen Gymnasium following a 56-39 victory over Indianapolis Washington.
“They came out, pressured us a little bit. We made the right decision and the right plays,” said Guerin Catholic head coach Bob Allen.
The Continentals came out quickly, showing they belonged. Their first two field goals were by 6-11 center Clem Butler, but he got in foul trouble with two in the first.
After being tied at 2-2 and 4-4, Guerin went on a 7-5 run, including a corner three from Robert Sorensen and four from Bryson Cardinal to end the first with an 11-9 lead.
Drawn up during the quarter break, Sorensen drained a three to make it 14-9. That started an 8-0 run, moving the lead to 19-9.
Washington then went on its biggest run of 6-0, cutting the deficit to 19-15, forcing Guerin Catholic to burn a 30-second timeout.
“Our seniors. Great composure, great effort. Just a want to continue to play and to do the right thing,” Allen said.
Out of the timeout, Sorensen drove to the bucket for another two. That was part of an 8-2 scoring spree to end the half with the sixth-ranked Golden Eagles up 27-17.
“It definitely helped being here before, being here last year. With their pressure, they fought hard for 32 minutes. We needed to control the pressure, cut to the ball, make good plays and we did that for the most part,” said the senior guard Sorensen.
The Continentals came out of the halftime locker room on a 5-0 run, cutting into the Guerin lead for a 27-22 score. But that seemed to just fuel the Golden Eagles.
After Dylan Murans made one of his five field goals, Clem Butler knocked down a 15-foot jumper to bring it back to five at 29-24, forcing another Guerin timeout.
Murans cuts down a piece of the net after the Golden Eagles’ regional victory. (Mike Navarro)
Sorensen took a pass in the right corner, right out of the timeout and swished a three. The Guerin faithful erupted. The Golden Eagles took the rest of the third 9-6 for a 41-30, including a Malcolm Houze three in the left corner in the final seconds.
“It was a game of runs. Every time they made a run, we did a great job of responding,” Sorensen continued.
Runs it was as the game progressed. Guerin Catholic pushed the lead to 17 when Sorensen hit his fourth three-pointer for what proved to be a dagger midway through the final quarter for a 49-32 advantage.
“When we get the ball into Jack Cherry and Rob Sorensen’s hands, two guards that know what they’re doing,” continued Allen. “Dylan Murans found the mismatch tonight. He was able to attack the rim about as good as he had all year. He was big-time, and was a difference maker tonight for us,” Allen said.
Free throws by Cherry and Murans (5-for-6), along with a Bryson Cardinal dunk with 40 seconds left and the Golden Eagles had secured their third regional crown in the last four seasons with a 56-39 win. The score was similar to GC’s 60-39 win over the Continentals during the regular season, on Feb. 8.
“We’re proud of our guys. We’re excited for another week of practice. We know there’s still work to do. We’re going to do what we can to keep going,” continued Allen.
Robert Sorensen led the Golden Eagles with a game-high 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including making 4-for-7 three-pointers. Dylan Murans joined him in double-figures with 13 on five field goals. Jack Cherry had nine, along with four rebounds and a handful of assists.
Bryson Cardinal had six and seven boards, while Malcolm Houze (5) and Andy Caron (4) helped round out the scoring.
Indianapolis Washington ended its season at 14-13 with its first regional appearance in 29 years (1995).
Guerin Catholic (21-7) advances on to the Class 3A south semi-state this Saturday at Seymour. The Golden Eagles will play Danville in the first semifinal at 10 a.m., with Scottsburg and Evansville Bosse playing the second semifinal, which starts around noon.
Photos by Mike Navarro