BY CHRIS STONER
FLOYDS KNOBS — Memories of Floyd Central’s 1989 Indiana Mr. Basketball Pat Graham were awoken Friday night in Floyds Knobs.
However, this shooter was wearing a purple uniform.
Seymour’s Matt Trimnell dropped in 42 points, including nine 3-pointers, and single-handedly shot down the Highlanders on Homecoming as the Owls won 69-61.
“He had a great night. We knew he was a good shooter and we didn’t take anything away from him,” Floyd head coach Randy Gianfagna said. “He hit his first couple and then the basket I’m sure looked like the ocean to him. We helped off of him when we shouldn’t have.”
The Highlanders fell behind early and never led in their third Hoosier Hills Conference loss of the season. Seymour jumped out to a 12-1 lead at the 4:13 mark in the first period, courtesy of three quick Trimnell bombs.
“We just didn’t pay attention to the scouting report to get out on their shooters,” Gianfagna said. “We didn’t get out on their shooter tonight. We got down 12-1 and I think we pressed the panic button.”
Floyd (10-5, 3-3 HHC) didn’t get its first field goal of the game until 2:03 left in the opening stanza as Jeffrey Thompson’s three-point play made it 14-6. On the next possession, Trimnell converted a rare four-point play, hitting his fourth triple and pushing the Owls to an 18-6 advantage.
“I didn’t think we were very fundamental tonight, defensively or offensively. That’s a recipe for disaster,” Gianfagna said. “I’m mad at our assignment defense tonight.”
Trimnell hit his fifth 3 with 3:58 left in the second frame, pushing his team’s lead to 28-12. Thompson, who equaled his career high with 20 points, scored 11 of the first 12 points for Floyd. A Cody Banet field goal with 3:11 left until intermission was the first bucket by a Highlander not named Thompson.
“I called a timeout with four minutes to go in the second quarter and just told the guys there was two and a half quarters to go and we’re only down 13. Let’s just settle down,” Gianfagna said.
The hosts shot just 31 percent and committed 12 turnovers in the first half.
“We didn’t practice well all week and that’s the way we played,” Gianfagna said. “We probably played our worst game of the year and still only got beat eight.”
Seymour (7-6, 3-3) pushed its lead to as many as 15 points in the third frame before a Banet steal and 3 at the third period horn made it 49-37 entering the final eight minutes.
Trimnell scored all of his team’s 14 third-quarter points.
Floyd would get no closer than the final margin in the fourth quarter as the Owls connected on 17-of-20 free throws in the final frame to secure their seventh win of the season.
“They did a good job and made us chase in the fourth quarter,” Gianfagna said. “They made all their free throws late and did everything you’re supposed to do with the lead.”
The Highlanders placed three players in double figures as Banet had 17 points and Codey 10 to complement Thompson’s 20.
Floyd will hit the hardwood again tonight at Evansville Reitz.
SEYMOUR 20 15 14 20—69
FLOYD CENTRAL 8 13 16 24—61
Seymour (7-6, 3-3 HHC) — J. Hunnicutt 2, M. Hunnicutt 3, Toppe 6, Carmichael 8, Fife 4, Trimnell 42, Kirtley 4.
Floyd Central (10-5, 3-3) — Mitchell 6, Niehoff 2, Banet 17, Codey 10, Allen 2, Crone 4, Je. Thompson 20.
3-point field goals — Seymour 11 (Toppe, Fife, Trimnell 9); Floyd Central 3 (Banet 2, Codey).
Rebounds — Seymour 28, Floyd Central 31.
Turnovers — Seymour 16, Floyd Central 18.
JUNIOR VARSITY: Floyd Central 38 (4-9-14-11) — Wortham 6, Miller 2, Jeffries 7, Sharp 0, Bomersbach 8, Peters 5, O’Neal 3, Knight 2, Jo. Thompson 5; Seymour 16 (4-0-5-7) — Tormeehlen 0, Stuckwish 3, Brown 1, Mills 0, Dailey 4, Miller 0, Clark 4, Beach 2, Hubbard 2.
