BOYS' 3RD REGION BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Meade falls to Owensboro, 65-45 (02/27)

The Meade County Green Wave wanted to send retiring coach Jerry Garris out with at least one more victory, but the Owensboro Red Devils spoiled those plans Tuesday night.

Owensboro used a balanced scoring attack to knock the Green Wave out of the Boys’ 3rd Region Basketball Tournament with a 65-45 win in the quarterfinals at the Owensboro Sportscenter.

Six players scored six or more points for Owensboro (19-10), which advances to face Ohio County in Friday’s semifinals. Ohio County moved on with a 64-40 win over Grayson County.

Sophomore guard Darion Morrow scored 14 points, while sophomore guard Aric Holman had 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Red Devils, who have won three straight and 6-of-9. Senior forward Trey Howard scored nine, sophomore post Justin Miller had eight points and 11 boards and sophomore guard Dylan Sanford scored six.

For Meade County, its season – and Garris’ career – comes to a close with a disappointing loss.

The Green Wave (10-21) trailed only 14-10 after the first quarter, but the Red Devils pulled out to a 35-20 lead at the half and held on down the stretch.

Meade County shot 26.6 percent (16-of-60) from the field and was 17.6 percent (3-of-17) from the arc.

Senior guard Bryce Garris scored a game-high 16 points and four rebounds, while junior guard Luke Wilson added 12 points, four rebounds and two steals. Junior guard Zeb Wilson chipped in with six points, three steals and two assists.

Jerry Garris finishes his career with a record of 163-152 (a .517 winning percentage). His teams won 20 games three times – going 20-9 in 2005-06, 23-7 in 2006-07 and 20-8 in 2007-08, the first three seasons after the Green Wave were moved from the 5th Region.

Meade County went 38-44 in Garris’ first three seasons before changing regions. The Green Wave finished 7-19 in 2009-10, the fewest wins in Garris’ tenure.

OWENSBORO 65, MEADE COUNTY 45

Meade County     10     10     13    12—45

Owensboro          14     21     13    17—65

Meade County (10-21)

Bryce Garris 16, Luke Wilson 12, Zeb Wilson 6, Connor Williams 4, Charles Mattingly 4, John Wilson 3. FG: 16-60. FT: 10-14. 3-pointers: 3-17 (Garris 3-12, L. Wilson 0-1, Mattingly 0-1, J. Wilson 0-1, Jacob Bewley 0-1, John Michael Millay 0-1). Rebs: 37 (Williams 15, L. Wilson 4, Garris 4). Assists: 8 (J. Wilson 3, Z. Wilson 2, Mattingly 2). Steals: 11 (Z. Wilson 3, Three with 2).

Owensboro (19-10)

Darion Morrow 14, Aric Holman 12, Trey Howard 10, Stephen Hanley 9, Justin Miller 8, Dylan Sanford 6, J.B. Johnson 2, Tyler Cockrum 2, Shawn Pendleton 2. FG: 23-49. FT: 12-17. 3-pointers: 7-20 (Morrow 3-10, Sanford 2-5, Holman 2-2, Howard 0-2, Gabe Filman 0-1). Rebs: 37 (Holman 11, Miller 11). Assists: 11 (Johnson 4, Morrow 3). Steals: 4 (Howard 2, Sanford 1, Holman 1).