Eagles edged by Cadets in JV final

Friday, December 30, 2011
South Putnam's Kinser Franklin goes up for two points during Thursday's Holiday Classic.

It took some clawing for the South Putnam Eagles to make it into the final of the Junior Varsity Holiday Basketball Classic at South Putnam Thursday. Once there, it was that fighting attitude, which allowed them to stay with a team that had previously beaten them by 11 earlier in the season.

South Putnam lost to Cascade 45-40 in the final, with the Cadets pulling away in the final seconds of the game.

The two teams entered the fourth quarter with Cascade in the lead 32-31 and the two never backed down at any point from each other.

South Putnam closed the lead to 41-40 with under a minute to go when Jake Schroer hit a bucket. However, Cascade's Ty Comer received a full-court pass and scored to push the Cadets out to a 43-40 lead. They tacked on two more points when Patrick Jaggars connected on two free throws with eight second remaining.

The Eagles trailed from early on in the first quarter, but were able to tie the ball game at eight-all with Kinser Franklin converted on a three-point play. South Putnam closed the gap to 13-11 in favor of Cascade after Schroer also converted on a three-point play at the end of the first quarter.

In the second, Cascade jumped out and extended its lead, but watched as South Putnam battled back and pulled within one once again at 20-19 on a Franklin free throw. But two quick baskets from Hunter Drury gave Cascade a 24-19 lead at the break.

South Putnam outscored the Cadets 12-6 in the third quarter to enter the fourth quarter down just one at 31-30.

In the consolation game, Cloverdale defeated North Vermillion 56-40.

At South Putnam

South Putnam 11 8 12 9 -- 40

North Vermillion 13 11 6 15 -- 45

Individual Scoring

South Putnam -- Schroer 16, Franklin 11, Vittetow 7, Chestnut 4, Russell 2. Totals: 11-27 FG, 12-23 FT, 40 TP.

North Vermillion -- Comer 14, Drury 13, Hostetler 6, Hart 3, Hyten 2, Jaggars 4, Fuehrer 1, Smith 2. Totals: 13-38 FG, 12-21 FT, 45 TP.