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Second-quarter run spurs Cougar girls to victory
ROACHDALE -- One lopsided quarter made the difference as North Putnam girls' basketball topped South Putnam in both teams' regular season finale Friday night.
The Cougars closed the first half on a 19-4 run and weathered a second-half Eagle rally to hang on for a 49-42 West Central Conference victory.
Senior Amanda Barnes gave the Eagles (3-14, 0-5 WCC) an 11-9 lead with 2:35 remaining in the first quarter, but it was their lone lead of the night.
The Cougars (4-14, 2-3 WCC) went on a 13-0 run over the next 7:51 and finished the half with a 28-15 lead.
Coach Curtis Lawrence said the Cougars made a small adjustment to their press, but the biggest keys to the run was sticking to their fundamentals.
"We forced some turnovers and we made shots," Lawrence said. "I told the girls at halftime, in the first quarter South made a little run, got a little lead on us. And then we turned it on and got the lead to end the first quarter and just built on it in the second quarter.
"We didn't change anything, except our press a little bit, we went to the 2-2-1 instead of the 1-2-2, but that's all we did. We took care of the ball, we made shots and we stuck to defense."
South Putnam coach Bill Merkel said one bad quarter each game has plagued his team all year.
"I was pleased overall with the effort from the girls," Merkel said. "We always seem to have one quarter we let it kind of slip away, and that's what it was. Then we battled back in the second half again, but just couldn't get over the hump."
South Putnam effort and intensity keyed a second-half run that put a bit of fear into the Cougars late. Several times in the second half, the Cougars got the lead to 14 points, but each time the Eagles clawed back, forcing key turnovers and knocking down shots.
After three, North Putnam led 34-24.
In the fourth, the Eagles got within shouting distance, but never closer than the final margin of seven.
One key to gaining and holding the lead was the play of Taylor Nauert. The junior scored 14 points and stayed out of the foul trouble that has at times plagued her this year, not picking up a foul until the third quarter.
"Any time we can keep Taylor on the floor, that's huge for us because she has the capability of doing so much for us," Lawreence said, "and she showed up offensively. She had 14 points, which is a season high for her. She has the capability if she doesn't get in foul trouble."
Nauert's impact was not lost on Merkel either.
"Nauert was on fire, she couldn't miss," Merkel said. "But we didn't make her move off her spot out on the floor. We thought maybe they'd try to keep her in a little bit more, but they didn't."
On senior night, Lawrence also credited his outgoing group of three. Madi Asbell finished with 11 points, followed by Bethany Wiatt's 10 and Alex Land's five.
"Our seniors -- Madi Asbell, Alex Land, Bethany Wiatt -- they've meant so much to this program in their four years here," Lawrence said. "I've only been here two of those four, but what they've meant to me in terms of leadership both on and off the floor. Just tremendous young ladies, those three are. Hard workers. Keeping their teammates going."
Merkel's seniors, who will not have a senior night due to cancellations, also had big games. Barnes had a game-high 16, followed by Aubrey Nichols with 11.
The coach said the way the seniors go often determines how the season goes. Unfortunately for this Eagles group, Nichols has spent the year playing out of position at point guard, and Barnes has spent much of the season recovering from an ankle sprain.
"Two super girls, I wouldn't mind having them as daughters," Merkel said. "They're just two great young ladies."
With the regular season and conference schedule now in the bag, both teams turn their attention to Sectional 44 play at Speedway High School.
The Cougars tip off the sectional action at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, taking on Monrovia (9-12). The Bulldogs won 49-29 when the teams faced off at North Putnam on Jan. 17.
On Wednesday at 6 p.m. the Eagles and face county rival Cloverdale (5-14) in their third meeting of the year. The Clovers took both regular season matchups with the Eagles.
At North Putnam
South Putnam 11 4 11 16 -- 42
North Putnam 13 15 8 13 -- 49
Scoring
South Putnam (3-14, 0-5 WCC): Barnes 5-10 6-6 16, Nichols 5-8 0-0 12, Dobson 2-4 1-2 5, Arnold 2-5 0-0 4, Hewitt 2-4 0-0 4, Modglin 0-1 1-2 1, Lady 0-6 0-2 0, Higgins 0-4 0-0 0. Totals: 16-41 FG, 8-12 FT, 42 points.
North Putnam (4-14, 2-3 WCC): Nauert 6-9 2-2 14, Asbell 4-12 1-2 11, Wiatt 2-5 6-8 10, Land 2-10 1-3 5, Mindiola 2-2 0-0 4, Clodfelter 1-2 0-0 2, Millican 1-4 0-0 2, Evans 0-0 1-4 1. Totals: 18-44 FG, 11-19 FT 49 points.
3-pt FG: SP 2-9 (Nichols 2-3, Lady 0-5, Arnold 0-1), NP 2-6 (Asbell 2-5, Land 0-1). Turnovers: SP 24, NP 18. Fouls: SP 19, NP 13. Fouled out: SP Barnes. Technical: SP bench.