First title in the history of the girls basketball program

Greenwood Christian Academy sectional champs

GCA’s leading scorers Izzy Reed (left), Alexis Mead and Savannah Frye raise the sectional trophy while teammates celebrate. It was the first sectional title in program history.

Alexis Mead (left) is embraced by sophomore Savannah Frye after a basket in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s win.

Freshman Elizabeth Bigelow cuts down a piece of net.

Coach Alan Weems cuts down a piece of net as it is the first time in his seven seasons at GCA the Cougars are sectional champs.

Greenwood Christian Academy’s players pumps it up Saturday as the Cougars open up a big lead against Tindley in the sectional title game. The players are (from left) Katie Potter, Dorothy O’ Dell, Kirsten Carlson and Alayna Boyer.

By Nathan Pace
Online editor

The wait is over for Greenwood Christian Academy as the girl’s basketball team won its first-ever sectional championship Saturday. The Cougars avenged a sectional title defeat last season to the Tigers of Tindley with a 74-43 win. “What it means is that these 12 kids have worked really hard all year and they have achieved something that has not been achieved before,” GCA coach Alan Weems said.

GCA went to work early against Tindley, leading 27-7 after the first quarter. The 20-point margin held at halftime 36-16 and the Cougars controlled the game after the third quarter 59-21. Sophomore Savannah Frye led the way with a team-high 23 points. Junior Alexis Mead was right behind with 20 as was sophomore Izzy Reed with 17.

“We played Tindley a few weeks ago and they are a very, very good team,” Mead said. “We knew what we were up against and were prepared for it. We worked very hard, worked together and we accomplished our goal.”

GCA is a young school compared to many other basketball programs in the state starting in 2003 and playing its first sectional game in 2007. Since then the Cougars have reached the sectional championship game three times but fell in those occasions. The most recent was last season at home to Tindley 83-53 in an emotional game at GCA.

“This team has so much intensity about it and doesn’t like to lose,” Weems said. “The Tindley team wasn’t the same as last years and we knew that but to come out and dominate like we did that is a great, great victory.”

The Cougars came into the sectional 13-10 with over half its season played against schools in larger classes. Hosting the sectional for a second straight year the Cougars demolished underdog opponents Central Christian (92-10) and Christel House Academy (101-23). In total, Greenwood Christian outscored its sectional competition 267-76.

“When you look at our record it is a little misleading, we played a difficult schedule,” Weems said. “That last week prepared them for this week.”

​The Cougars do not have any seniors on their roster making their future appear very bright as well. Greenwood Christian will take on North Central (Farmersburg) at 10 a.m. Saturday at Southwestern High School in Shelby County. If the Cougars win they will play for a regional title Saturday night.

SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY NATHAN PACE Greenwood Christian Academy celebrates its first-ever girls basketball sectional championship Saturday after defeating Tindley, 83-53 on the Cougars’ court. Team members are (from left) Kirsten Carlson, Alayna Boyer, Sarah Kate Wells, Katie Potter, Isabella Reed, Chloe Grider, Alexis Mead, Dorothy O’Dell, Savannah Frye, Morgan Haynes, Ellie Bigelow, Cameron Northern and Lily Rastenburg.