Eels too strong for Cougars

Monday, January 10, 2011

EMINENCE -- The North Putnam girls basketball team delivered a competitive effort against Eminence into the third quarter Saturday, but faltered from there in a 57-33 loss on the Eels' court.

"We played more minutes that were better than maybe the entire season," Cougars' coach Jim Brothers said. "But there's no coloring it, we've got to make shots. We missed some easy shots from two and four feet."

North Putnam (3-10) shot 26 percent (12-of-46) from the field, including 1-of-6 3-pointers. The Cougars were 8-of-16 at the foul line.

North Putnam's game plan was to run its offense through center Samantha Lucas and be patient. It kept them in the game for the initial 18 minutes, when Lucas scored all nine of her points. The 5-foot-10 sophomore was 2-of-3 from the field and 5-of-8 at the free throw line. She also had seven rebounds.

The Cougars fell behind 12-5, but they kept closing the gap. Maggie Pinney's 3-pointer left them trailing 20-17 late in the second period.

Eminence (7-7) went on a 7-0 run to lead 27-17 at halftime.

Lucas scored the opening three points of the third period to get the Cougars within seven, 27-20.

The Eels revved up its running game, going on a 14-4 run to lead 41-24 going into the fourth period.

"Our shot selection wasn't that bad, but we didn't get back on defense in the second and third periods," Brothers said. "There was a point in the third period when we started to rush things."

Lucas didn't have a field goal attempt in the final 14 minutes.

"We got the ball to Lucas early," Brothers said. "Eminence changed defenses and we didn't make adjustments."

Pinney, a 5-foot-9 junior, also scored nine points. She was 4-of-7 from the field and made her sole 3-pointer.

"She (Pinney) got some good shots that came when we were patient in our offense," Brothers said.

The Cougars also had 18 turnovers to seven for Eminence.

It all added up to North Putnam's ninth straight loss.

"We still have to score more than 33," Brothers said.

At Eminence

North Putnam 9 8 7 9 -- 33

Eminence 14 13 14 16 -- 57

NORTH PUTNAM (3-10)

Lucas 2-3 5-8 9, Mac. Asbell 1-9 0-1 2, Mo. Robinson 0-0 1-2 1, Pinney 4-7 00-1 9, Frey 0-6 2-4 2, Kientz 0-1 0-0 0, Me. Robinson 3-11 0-0 6, Aynes 0-3 0-0 0, Wiatt 0-0 0-0 0, Roberts 1-1 0-0 2, Matthews 1-2 0-0 2, Mad. Asbell 0-3 0-0 0, Totals 12-47 8-16 33.

EMINENCE (7-7)

Campbell 5-14 1-5 11, Gore 1-4 0-0 2, Hunter 10-17 4-5 24, Nugent 0-3 0-0 0, Merrick 6-11 5-6 19, Feutz 0-2 0-0 0, Moore 0-0 0-0 0, Watson 0-0 1-2 1, Totals 22-51 11-18 57.

3-point field goals: NP 1-6 (Pinney 1-1, Frye 0-2, Me. Robinson 0-3), E 2-5 (Merrick 2-3, Campbell 0-1, Gore 0-1). Rebounds: NP 38 (Lucas 7, Frye 5, Aynes 5), E 32 (Hunter 11). Turnovers: NP 18, E 7. Total fouls: NP 14, E 11.

Fouled out: None.