Cougars still searching for fourth win after loss to Bulldogs

Saturday, January 15, 2011
Samantha Lucas

MONROVIA -- Blown out in the first half, North Putnam played for pride in the second half and put together a solid performance in an 84-64 loss to Monrovia in a West Central Conference girls game Friday night at Branch McCracken Memorial Gym.

The Cougars (3-11, 0-2 WCC) trailed 51-22 at halftime. Instead of going through the motions in the final two quarters, they responded with sharpness that carried them to a 42-33 advantage in the final two quarters.

"They (Monrovia) stepped up right from the start making three pointers and we were turning the ball over," North Putnam coach Jim Brothers said. "That's a bad combination."

The Cougars had 17 turnovers in the first half. Meanwhile, Monrovia senior guard Morgan Knieper was making six-of-10 3-pointers and Kori Shields was going 2-of-2 on 3-pointers. Knieper ended with 26 points, making 8-of-13 3-pointers, and Shields scored 13 on 5-of-6 from the field including 3-of-3 3-pointers. The Bulldogs (4-10, 2-1 WCC) were 12-of-21 on 3-pointers for the game.

North Putnam committed only 10 turnovers in the second half.

Megan Robinson led North Putnam with 15 points, Samantha Lucas had 14 points and four rebounds and Morgan Robinson had nine points and four rebound.

"I thought Lucas played really well," Brothers said. "She played the best game of her career. She worked hard at both ends of the court and worked to establish herself in the post. She kept her feet underneath her and didn't just throw the ball up."

Megan Robinson scored 11 points in the second half, making 3-of-4 3-pointers in the last two quarters.

"Megan Robinson got us going in the second half," Brothers said. "Morgan Robinson did a pretty decent job doing the things we want her to do."

North Putnam, which lost its 10th straight game, plays its next game at Southmont on Tuesday.

At Monrovia

Monrovia 18 33 18 15 -- 84

North Putnam 6 16 20 22 -- 64

MONROVIA (4-10, 2-1 WCC)

Vondersaar3-7 1-3 7, Brackett 1-10 0-0 2, Smith 3-3 0-2 6, Ma. Knieper 5-9 8-8 18, Mo. Knieper 8-17 2-2 26, Wright 5-9 1-4 12, Kaiser 0-1 0-2 0, Shields 4-5 0-0 13, Spear 0-2 0-0 0, Whitaker 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 30-65 12-21 85.

NORTH PUTNAM (3-11, 0-2 WCC)

Kientz 1-1 0-0 2, Mac. Asbell 1-3 3-5 6, Me. Robinson 6-11 0-0 15, Frye 0-2 4-7 4, Lucas 5-8 4-8 14, Mo. Robinson 4-7 1-2 9, Aynes 0-0 0-0 0, Wiatt 1-2 2-2 4, Matthews 1-1 0-0 2, Volland 0-0 2-2 2, Pinney 2-5 2-4 6, Totals 21-40 18-29 64.

3-point field goals: M 12-22 (Mo. Knieper 8-13, Shields 3-3, Wright 1-1, Vondersaar 0-1, Brackett 0-4), NP 4-9 (Me. Robinson 3-5, Mac. Asbell 1-1, Pinney 0-1, Frye 0-2). Rebounds: M 30 (Vondersaar 4, Wright 5), NP 35 (Lucas 4, Mo. Robinson 4). Turnovers: M 15, NP 27. Total fouls: M 21, NP 22. Fouled out: Frye, Pinney.