Cougars top Panthers in home opener

North Putnam senior Shane Beaman drives during a game earlier this season. Beaman had 10 points in the Cougars' win over Riverton Parke on Saturday. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam boys' basketball team held their first home game of the season on Saturday night, defeating Riverton Parke 47-28.

North Putnam (4-2, 1-0 West Central) seemed to be able to anything it wanted on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court.

"It's always good to win by double digits especially in front of the home crowd," North Putnam senior Shane Beaman said. "The win felt great."

"Anytime you can hold your opponent to under 30 points you are going to feel really good about your effort no matter what happens on the other end of the court. I am really impressed," NPHS head coach Lukas Haworth said. "It was a tough win last night against Cascade and to come out tonight with that type of intensity in back-to-back games is very impressive."

The Panthers (2-4), got off to an early 4-0 lead but after four straight 3-pointers went in from senior Jordan Nauert, Beaman, Panther senior Kole Sanders and Nauert again, the Cougars took a 9-7 lead, one they would not relinquish.

On the night NPHS shot 55 percent from the floor and made 6-of-7 from the free throw line. On 18 made baskets, the Cougars assisted on 13 of them.

"We are an unselfish team, willing to drive in and when the help steps up to make that extra pass and get it too the extra guy and we were able to do that tonight," Haworth said. "Shane and Jordan both hit big 3s and when we got it to Brandon (Hall), Coy (Flynn), Beau (Green) and Kyler (Jeter), and when they had a chance to finish, they finished."

North Putnam kept its turnovers down, only giving the ball away 12 times whilst forcing 13 Panther turnovers.

The Cougars also outrebounded the Panthers 12-11. The Cougars hauled down four offensive boards and the Panthers were only allowed two.

"(Our rebounding) was much better than it has been in the past," Haworth said. "That was one of the things we have had to continually work on. It has been a struggle so I was very proud to see our guys make an effort to keep them off the boards."

The Cougars stretched their lead to 47-24 by the end of the third quarter and started to substitute in reserves. The Cougars' philosophy for the final quarter was to take as much time as possible per possession and shoot when they had a good look.

Senior Josh Munns, junior Jake Riggen and sophomore Austin Judy all played the most minutes they have in a game this season.

Riggen and Judy both had good looks for 3s but barely missed them. Munns hauled down a hustle offensive board to keep a possession alive as well.

North Putnam did not score any points in the fourth quarter, they did not need to. The first points in the fourth were scored by Panther senior Luther Mathias with 3:17 left in the game. The last bucket was scored with just under two minutes left in the game by Panther junior Logan Blacketer.

North Putnam cruised to a fairly easy win in their first home game of the year but Haworth says that they still have some things to improve on over break.

"We still need to cut down on our turnovers; to continually to be an unselfish team; all the little things that help us win the big games," Haworth said.

"We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball," Beaman added. "We are mostly a young team so we need to learn from all our turnovers so we do not make those mistake again."

Riverton Parke (28): Sanders 11, Mathas 6, Blackleter 4, Walker 3, Lowe 2, Organ 2. Total: 9-19 (3-10) 1-2, 28.