From staff reports

GREENCASTLE -- After one quarter of play in an important Mid Penn Capital Division boys basketball game Tuesday night, Greencastle-Antrim trailed Shippensburg 6-4.

It was not a sign of things to come.

The Blue Devils exploded for 68 points in the final three periods and blasted the Greyhounds 72-47.

Greencastle (11-7, 6-1 MPC) remains tied for first place in the Capital Division with Big Spring, which edged James Buchanan 54-53 on Tuesday. G-A plays at Big Spring on Friday night to decide the championship.

"It was not the start we wanted," Devil coach Garon Gembe said. "It was Senior Recognition Night and I don't think the kids got into their normal flow."

Ship coach Darren Shaffer said, "They had a different lineup to start. And it was a strange start. Both teams seemed to be waiting for the scoring to start and it didn't happen."

But when the Blue Devils did get it going, everything worked. Greencastle outscored the Hounds 23-9 in the second period to take a 27-15 halftime lead.

Gembe said, "Our defense was solid throughout the game and helped us get into transition. We were flying up and down the court."

"The defensive pressure they put on the ball was very good," Shaffer said. "Recently we've been struggling with attacking the other team's pressure. We can't seem to come off screens and keep our offensive rhythm.

"Greencastle turned it up a notch on defense and we didn't respond."

For the Devils,

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Christian Hoover poured in 21 points and had five assists. Nathan Pool and Jerrick Gembe added 11 points each and Eric Baymon contributed nine points and nine of the team's 21 assists.

Hoover, Baymon and Jared Grove each had six points in the second quarter and Hoover added 11 in the fourth.

"Christian played another solid game," Garon Gembe said. "He scored and when Eric was out he did a nice job at the point. Eric had a good game at point and Nathan and Jerrick were hitting from the wings."

Shippensburg (9-9, 3-4 MPC), which is seeing its chances for a District 3 playoff berth getting a little slimmer, got 15 points from Derek Boone.

Shaffer said, "We were just not sharp tonight. Rebounding was the biggest reason why we beat them at our place, but they hurt us on the boards more this time."

The Devils held a 26-19 advantage in rebounding.

Greencastle 72, Shippensburg 47

SHIPPENSBURG

Greg Williams 0 0-2 0, Andy Williams 0 0-0 0, Dereck Mills 3 1-3 7, Ryan Maun 2 0-0 5, Chace Weltz 0 0-0 0, John Baker 0 0-0 0, Toddé Statum 1 0-1 2, Derek Boone 5 4-5 15, Tanner Hamman 2 0-0 5, James Kiama 2 0-0 4, Austin Marzullo 1 0-0 2, Travis Faust 3 1-2 7. Totals 18 6-13 47.

GREENCASTLE

Andrew Zeger 1 2-2 4, Eric Schanzenbacher 1 1-1 3, Eric Baymon 3 1-1 9, Nathan Pool 5 0-0 11, Christian Hoover 9 1-1 21, Brandon Trefelner 2 0-0 4, Jared Grove 4 1-1 9, Jerrick Gembe 4 0-0 11, Dyshean Workman 0 0-2 0, Seth Sprague 0 0-0 0. Totals 29 6-17 72.

Shippensburg 6 9 18 14 -- 47

Greencastle 4 23 19 26 -- 72

3-point shots -- Ship 3 (Maun, Boone, Hamman); GA 8 (Gembe 3, Hoover 2, Baymon 2, Pool). Rebounds -- Ship 19 (Faust 4); GA 26 (Schanzenbacher 5). Assists -- Ship 4 (Mills 3); GA 21 (Baymon 9). Steals -- Ship 10 (Mills 4). Turnovers -- Ship 18.

JV: Greencastle 75, Shippensburg 50. Denver Cordell and Tyler Szaflarski each had 16 points for G-A; Ship got 13 points from Shane Witmer.

Next game: Ship: Friday, at home vs. Waynesboro, 7:30 ... G-A: Friday, at Big Spring, 7:30.