Jim Walker
jim.walker@irontontribune.com

REEDSVILLE — It took just two minutes for Green Bobcats’ coach Dirk Hollar to become upset with the way his team was playing.
The Eastern Eagles took a 10-point lead in the first two minutes of the game forcing Hollar to call a timeout.
“We came out ugly again. I think I got the message across (in the timeout) because we came out defensively and got after them,” said Hollar.
The result was a better defensive effort as Green beat the Eagles 63-61 on Thursday.
Tanner Kimbler fueled the offense for Green with 25 points including six 3-point goals. Tayte Carver added 14 points and Gage Sampson scored 12.
Isaiah Fish scored 19 points and Garrett Barringer had 13 for Eastern (2-4).
Fish and Colton Reynolds scored five points apiece as they each hit a 3-pointers and the Eagles took a 17-9 at the end of the quarter.
Kimbler hit three 3-pointers and scored 14 points in the second quarter and Carver had seven more points as Green stormed back to take a 32-29 halftime lead.
“The run right there got us back in it and from there it was all about defending and playing physical,” said Hollar.
Fish scored six more points in the second quarter.
Kimbler hit another 3-pointer and scored five points while Sampson had four points and Green maintained its 3-point lead at 46-43.
Blaise Facemyer scored five points including a 3-pointer while Kaleb Hill scored three points in the quarter for the Eagles.
Key shots and big defensive plays were the difference in the fourth quarter for Green.
Eastern took a one-point lead but Kimbler hit a big 3-pointer to put Green on top. Carver made two big free throws and Sampson — despite battling the flu — came up with a big steal and made two foul shots down the stretch.
“Rylee Maynard had another nice game defensively and Sampson was sick as a dog and had the biggest steal of the night. Carver had a nice game and got some points in transition,” said Hollar.
“We know it’s gotta improve on the defensive end if we wanna compete with the top teams in our league.”
Green hosts South Gallia on Saturday.
Green    9    23    14    17    =    63
Eastern    17    12    14    18    =    61
GREEN (6-4): Tanner Kimbler 2 6 3-4 25, Tayte Carver 4 1 3-4 14, Zach Huffman 2 0 2-4 6, Caden Blizzard 0 0 2-2 2, Gage Sampson 4 0 4-7 12, Rylee Maynard 2 0 0-0 4, Caden Brammer 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 14 7 14-21 63. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.
REEDSVILLE EASTERN (2-4): Dylan Creath 0 0 0-0 0, Sharp Facemyer 2 0 0-0 4, Blaise Facemyer 1 1 2-2 7, Colton Reynolds 3 1 0-0 9, Isaiah Fish 6 1 4-6 19, Garrett Barringer 5 0 3-3 13, Kaleb Hill 4 0 1-2 9. Totals: 21 3 10-13 61. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.