South Putnam can't overcome tough first quarter at home

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

GREENCASTLE-- South Vermillion's superior shooting from the field carried it to a 55-37 victory over South Putnam in a nonconference boys' basketball game Tuesday night on the Eagles' court.

It was the first victory of the year for the Wildcats, who made 21-of-39 (53.8 percent) field goals including 7-of-13 3-pointers. South Putnam was 14-of-45 (31.1 percent) including 3-of-13 on 3-pointers.

"The difference in the game was we hit big shots," South Vermillion coach Rodney Idlewine said.

The rest of the statistics were, on balance, even. South Putnam was 6-of-10 at the foul line, South Vermillion 6-of-9. The Eagles had 13 turnovers to 18 for the Wildcats, but that possession ratio was countered by South Vermillion's 30 rebounds to South Putnam's 22.

"I didn't think we were ready to play," South Putnam coach Micah Elliott said. "We had good shots, a lot in the paint, and we didn't make them. Our effort was there, but our focus was not for 32 minutes. We let them have 14 points more than their scoring average.

"We scouted them and all the guys (three) we focused on defensively ended up in double figures."

South Putnam (1-17) fell behind 18-5 at the close of the first quarter, but cut its deficit to 28-17 at the half.

Seth Hammond made 3-of-4 field goals including a 3-pointer for seven points to lead the second-period rally for the Eagles.

The Wildcats (1-16) went on a 10-2 run to open the second half for a 38-19 lead and the Eagles never got closer than 15 the rest of the way.

"That's (South Vermillion) not an 0-16 team," Elliott said.

South Vermillion didn't erupt into a major celebration after finally breaking through for its first victory.

"It's more relief than anything," Idlewine said. "It stopped the bleeding more than anything."

South Vermillion's Phillip Harpenau, a 6-foot-5 junior center, scored eight of the 10 on a pair of 3-pointers and a basket off a steal. He had 16 points and eight rebounds. Guard Dylan Reyher also scored 16 and guard Dylan Haltom scored 10.

Hammond, a 6-foot junior guard, led South Putnam with 13. Teammate Justin Bumgardner scored 10 on 5-of-5 shooting from the field.

South Putnam travels to Owen Valley on Friday.

At South Putnam

S. Vermillion 18 10 15 12 --55

South Putnam 5 12 8 12 -- 37

SOUTH VERMILLION (1-16)

Johansen0-0 1-2 1, Vaughan 3-3 0-0 6, Harpenau 6-10 1-2 16, Haltom 4-8 0-0 10, Reyher 6-9 2-2 16, Craigmyle 1-4 0-1 2, Scott 0-2 2-2 2, Lawson 1-3 0-0 2, Totals 21-39 6-9 55.

SOUTH PUTNAM (1-17)

Se. Arnold 0-3 1-2 1, Bumgardner 5-5 0-0 10, Varvel 1-2 5-8 7, Freeman 1-6 0-0 2, Hammond 5-14 0-0 13, Stanton 0-1 0-0 0, Sa. Arnold 1-9 0-0 2, Gibson 1-5 0-0 2, Totals 14-45 6-10 37.

3-point field goals: SV 7-13 (Harpenau 3-4, Reyher 2-3, Haltom 2-4, Craigmyle 0-1, Lawson 0-1). Rebounds: SV 30 (Harpenau 8, Craigmyle 5), SP 22 (Varvel 5, Hammond 4). Turnovers: SV 18, SP 13. Total fouls: SV 10, SP 11. Fouled out: None.

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