NEWVILLE -- The Greencastle-Antrim boys basketball team continued its end-of-the-season surge, using a strong third quarter to knock off Big Spring 59-49 and secure the Mid Penn Capital Division title.

It was the third division title for the Blue Devils (12-7, 7-1 MPC) in the last five years, the others coming in 2006 and 2008.

"It never gets old," G-A coach Garon Gembe said. "This is a great accomplishment for the kids and rewards them for the hard work they put into it."

Leading 20-14 at halftime, G-A came out and scored 24 points in the third quarter and eventually built a 20-point lead.

"We were a little tight early and I think you can blame that some on the weather the last couple days and the fact that the game was for the division title," Gembe said. "We relaxed and got into a flow in the third quarter and scored 24 points. That blew the game open.

"A reporter at the game told me we were 11 of 13 shooting in the third quarter."

Christian Hoover scored 16 points for G-A and hit double figures for a seventh straight game. The Blue Devils have now won four straight and eight of 10.

Two other factors helped decide the outcome -- G-A held Big Spring sharpshooter Tyler Carns to five points and it got 13 points and 11 rebounds from big man Eric Schanzenbacher, who continues to round into form.

"Schanzenbacher continues to improve every game and he made some tough shots," Gembe said. "I also thought this was a continuation of the way we've

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been playing, and defense is where it all starts for us."

The Bulldogs (13-7, 6-2 MPC) got 23 points from Jake Henry.

Greencastle 59, Big Spring 49

GREENCASTLE-ANTRIM

Andrew Zeger 2 2-2 6, Eric Schanzenbacher 4 5-10 13, Eric Baymon 1 0-2 3, Nathan Pool 3 0-1 7, Christian Hoover 5 5-8 16, Corey Meyers 0 0-0 0, Brandon Trefelner 0 0-2 0, Jared Grove 1 2-2 4, Jerrick Gembe 1 2-2 4, Seth Sprague 3 0-0 6. Totals 20 16-29 59.

BIG SPRING

Andrew Fry 2 2-2 8, Garret Adams 3 0-2 6, Tyler Carns 2 0-0 5, Dayne Conner 3 1-2 7, Jake Henry 10 3-7 23. Totals 20 6-13 49.

Greencastle 11 9 24 15 -- 59

Big Spring 7 7 14 21 -- 49

3-point shots -- GA 3 (Hoover, Pool, Baymon); Big 3 (Fry 2, Carns). Rebounds -- GA 23 (Schanzenbacher 11). Assists -- GA 15 (Baymon 8).

JV: Greencastle 55, Big Spring 47. Tyler Szaflarski led G-A with 13 points.

Next game: Thursday, at Bishop McDevitt, 7:30.