North Putnam falls to North Vermillion

Wednesday, December 14, 2011
North Putnam's LeeAnn Davis (13) and Samantha Lucas (41) scored eight points to lead the Cougars in Tuesday's game against North Vermillion

ROACHDALE -- North Putnam's girls' basketball team found a hot shooting North Vermillion squad too much to contend with Tuesday night, falling 55-33.

The Falcons started off by grabbing a quick 7-0 lead before scoreboard issues gave the Cougars a chance to regroup.

After play resumed, the Cougars scored six points to trail by one, but, with two chances to take the lead, saw the visitors score nine points over the last three minutes to gain a 16-8 lead at the end of one period of play.

Scoring then became an issue for the Cougars as they struggled to knock down shots, while North Vermillion remained patient and outscored the Cougars 12-6 in both the second and third periods.

North Putnam's offense finally got on track in the fourth quarter but by then the game was effectively in the Falcon's hands.

The early struggles hampered the Cougars, according to head coach Jim Brothers.

"There's a small line for mistakes, and when we're missing shots under the basket and free throws, we just bury ourselves in a hole and can't climb out of it," Brothers said.

"We're just not a team that's built to come back against a quicker team than what we are," he added.

"We've got to take advantage of those shots early and get them to fall. That would help our mental attitude and intensity at the other end to make more baskets," Brothers said.

When the Cougars had the chance to take the lead, it's the kind of opportunity Brothers said the squad needs to seize.

"We fought back into it. It was a one point game and we missed two lay-ups then gave up one on the same possession. It's swings like that we can't overcome," Brothers said.

"Our margin for error is very, very small and we've got to take advantage of everything we get. Right now, we're not doing that," he added

North Putnam begins WCC play Friday when they travel to Cascade. Brothers said that the blueprint from last season's game would work, if the Cougars stay with it.

"We've got to get our mind set on taking care of the basketball and handling their pressure. Last year we played against much of the same bunch. In the first quarter, we handled the ball fine. We didn't make them all, but we got lay-ups," Brothers said.

"Then we got away from what we were doing and decided to change some things without checking with the coaches first. We went away from what worked in the first quarter."

Brothers said his team will be to stay focued and be ready for Cascade's pressure. And that they'll need to get back on defense to stop the Cadet offense.

At North Putnam

North Vermillion 16 12 12 15 -- 55

North Putnam 8 6 6 13 -- 33

Individual Scoring

North Vermillion -- 23-44 FG, 5-12 3-FG, 4-7 FT

Turchi 19, Bowman 12, Karr 11, C. West 10, Kinneer 3

North Putnam -- 14-41 FG, 0-2 3-FG, 5-7 FT

Davis 8, Lucas 8, Pinney 4, K. Asbell 4, Matthews 3, Robinson 2, M. Asbell 2, Kientz 2

Next game -- North Putnam travels to Cascade Friday in the first game of the Girls/Boys doubleheader starting at 6 p.m.