Green stands ground in NP win over Cloverdale

North Putnam senior Zach Green stands in the lane and braces for contact by Cloverdale junior Zach Dorman. Dorman was called for a charge that helped seal an NPHS win. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

CLOVERDALE -- As the North Putnam and Cloverdale boys' basketball teams traded baskets throughout the fourth quarter and the clock began ticking down, it was apparent that one big play would decide the game.

North Putnam senior Zach Green made that play and helped the Cougars win, 59-56.

As junior Zach Dorman slashed through the lane, down two points with 31 seconds to go, it looked like it would be his day.

Dorman's eyes widened at the sight of the rim, but he failed to see Green sliding in front of him, planting his feet and standing firm.

As Dorman's layup rattled out, a pile of Zachs clogged the floor of the lane. The official's whistle sounded as he signaled a charge.

"Zach (Green) was tremendous," NPHS coach Nathan Martindale said. "That's the best game I've seen him play. Ever. He came in, he was under control, he scored some, he was quicker than some of the (Cloverdale) guards and he was able to get into the paint and get some layups for us.

"Then he had that huge charge in the fourth quarter. That was a make-or-break situation and we got the call."

Green's play led to a shooting foul at the other end. Junior Shane Beaman made one of two, extending the lead to three.

Sophomore Brantson Scott, who tied with Dorman as the game's high-scorer with 17, answered with a layup with 10 seconds left.

The subsequent inbounds pass missed its intended target, but Brody Pfaff was called for a foul as he and NPHS junior Jordan Nauert dove after the ball.

Nauert sank the pair, putting NPHS up three with six seconds left.

"He can do whatever he wants," Martindale said. "He's the type of kid that can shoot it when he needs to. He can pass it when he needs it. We even had him on the big kid (Dorman) tonight ... He's a very versatile player for us. We can put him in many different positions. I don't know too many guys that can defend the post and go out and play point guard on the way down.

"It was a total team-effort. All eight guys played great minutes for us."

The Clovers had been in similar situations before. They entered the game 3-2 in one-possession games including a buzzer-beating shot to beat Clay City last Saturday.

Unlike the other situations, when the players were taught to drive to the basket, Cloverdale trailed NPHS by three.

CHS coach Pat Rady called for a timeout.

"We wanted to get a three-point shot," Rady said. "We had two people lined up and they covered the other one (Collet) pretty well, so we went for the three-point shot (with Scott)."

Scott's attempt rattled out and Beaman hauled in the rebound to run out the clock.

The game hadn't always been close.

Cloverdale trailed 34-23 at the break, then proceeded to go on a 19-4 run to start the third quarter. Scott and junior Kedrick Collet (seven points in the quarter) sparked the rally that had the two teams enter the fourth quarter tied at 42.

The Clovers were helped by the foul trouble of the North Putnam bigs, seniors Jameson Brewer and Jake Haste.

"Our bigs played a little tentative because of fouls, so (Cloverdale was) able to get some things that they normally wouldn't have gotten," Martindale said.

Rady said that was all part of the plan.

"When we got certain guys in foul trouble, we were trying to put (Brewer and Haste) in low-post position and force them to have to defend," Rady said. "A lot of times when a guy's got foul trouble he won't defend as well."

Green finished with 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

North Putnam hosts Greencastle on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Cloverdale travels to South Putnam on the same date and time.

North Putnam junior Jordan Nauert blocks a slamdunk attempt by Cloverdale junior Zach Dorman in the third quarter on Friday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

At Cloverdale
North Putnam 16 18 8 17 -- 59
Cloverdale 10 13 19 14 -- 56