Asbell's Cougars fall to Trojans 49-20

North Putnam senior Madi Asbell scores on a layup attempt during a game earlier this season. Asbel had 12 points and nine rebounds in the loss at Covington on Tuesday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

COVINGTON -- The North Putnam girls' basketball team made the long trek up to Covington High School Tuesday night to take on the Trojans (2-0). Led by senior Madi Asbell, the Cougars fell in the matchup 49-20.

The Cougars (0-3) got off to a fast start on an Asbell 3-pointer and, after a free throw by senior Bethany Wiatt and a midrange jumper by senior Alexandria Land, led 6-0.

Covington (2-0) started to creep up with free throws and 3-point shooting, making a 16-3 run to gain the lead 17-9, one they never relinquished.

The Cougars struggled to stop the magnificent ball handling of the Trojans junior point guard Avery Chezem, who had 17 points, five assists and just one turnover.

Even though the box score shows a 29-point loss, the Cougars showed evidence of improving on some early weakness and flashed a couple bright spots, most notably Asbell.

"She played really well," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "I have been talking to Madi about getting herself to slow down, not play at top speed, and I thought she did that tonight.

"She got off to a fast start, and buried a 3 to start the game, and really got us off to a good start. The best game she's played this year for us."

After turning the ball over more than two dozen times in her last game against Danville, Asbell shrunk that number to just six and improved her shooting to 5-for-11 from the field. She also led the team in steals with five.

In addition to her offense, Asbell is proving to be a force on the boards this year. She and sophomore center Taylor Nauert had nine and seven rebounds, respectively.

After scoring 32 points in the first half, the Trojans only scored 13 the rest of the game. The Cougars' defense began making plays after the break, totaling four blocks and 10 steals and forcing five more turnovers in the second half.

The Cougars were pressed throughout the game and they solved the pressure most of the time, throwing the ball in to a taller player who would turn and look up court for a streaking guard.

"I thought we did well against it," Lawrence said. "I will give (NPHS boys' varsity coach Lukas Haworth) some of that credit. He showed us his press-breaker and the kids have adapted well to it.

"Once we got to the middle of the floor, the press was not much of an issue, it was not finishing on the other end."

Breaking the press and getting numerous open looks can only help so much when a team shoots 23 percent from the floor, as NPHS did, missing several layups.

While improved, the Cougars also struggled with turnovers once again Lawrence said.

"(We need to work on) taking care of the ball," Lawrence said. "Just (start) making wide-open looks. We missed a lot of layups. Those are things that we have to clean up."

In preparation for the Putnam County Classic and a match-up with Greencastle on Friday, the Cougars will have to start playing faster, cleaner and more physical. Lawrence thinks that aspect will start tomorrow.

"One of the good things is tomorrow night we are going to start scrimmaging the freshman boys, so that is going to bring a little physical play to our practice which I think will be good for us," Lawrence said. "We have to get back to playing aggressive on the defensive end."

At Covington
North Putnam......8 5 1 6 -- 20
Covington..........17 15 6 11 -- 49