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Cougars fall to South Vermillion at home, 58-29
ROACHDALE-- The North Putnam Cougars boys' basketball team held its senior night Saturday night without any seniors being on the team. They lost to the visiting South Vermillion Wildcats 58-29.
"They know we're thin on the bench," Cougar coach Collin McCartt said. "They just keep fighting, though and trying to get better. Right now that's all we can ask for."
South Vermillion (8-10 2-3 WIC) started off early with an 8-2 lead, but more importantly by the end of the first quarter they had seven different players score. No player had more than three points, which was only completed by senior Jordan Branz and senior Dalton Bogetto who each hit threes.
"When you talk about our fifth game in eight days we're playing six guys," McCartt said. "They're playing 12. They've obviously got a lot. They've got an opportunity to try to wear you down even quicker."
Corbin Judy, a sophomore, tried helping his team fluster the Wildcats by penetrating the defensing and scoring three points the old fashioned way and cutting the lead to three, but that was the only three points of the night he scored.
Shooting was a big concern for the Cougars (3-15 0-4WCC). They did not hit a two-point field goal in the second quarter and finished the half 3 for 16 in the category. Two threes in the half helped the Cougars.
South Vermillion started the second half with a desire for offensive rebounds. After the first possession, the next three possessions resulted in six points off of second chance opportunities. They had seven offensive rebounds in the quarter and 11 total for the game.
"I think it was a little bit of frustration and fatigue," McCartt said about his team. "Because we were frustrated and tired it took away some of our toughness and we didn't compete."
Overall, the Wildcats outrebounded the Cougars by 14 for the game. They stunned the Cougars with a stellar 33 of 52 shooting from the field and 9 of 12 from the charity strike.
"Overall our defense has been pretty solid," McCartt said. "It's just when our defense makes mistakes that we get exposed and they score."
North Putnam only shot 9-41 from the field. They shot 5 of 13 from the line and had 14 turnovers.
"Right now we just aren't a very efficient offensive team," McCartt said. "I think our guys have gotten a lot more aggressive. That's good. We didn't do a very good job at the free throw line tonight. I think we need to get there more."
Sophomore Jordan Bean had three of those field goals for the Cougars including two three pointers in the second half. He led the Cougars with eight points.
North Putnam's next game will be Feb. 12 against Eminence at home.
At North Putnam
South Vermillion 16 11 20 11--58
North Putnam 7 7 11 4--29
Scoring
South Vermillion (33-52 9-12 58): Strayer 3-10 4-4 11, Morgan 5-6 0-0 10, Chapman 3-5 8, Russell 3-5 2-2 8, Branz 3-11 0-2 7, McMasters 3-6 0-0 6, Bogetto 1-3 0-0 3, Michalic 0-1 3-4 3,Waldrop 1-3 2, McFall 0-0 0-0 0.
North Putnam (9-41 5-13 29):Bean 3-6 0-1 8, Jeter 2-9 2-2 6, A. Judy 1-7 3-6 6, C. Judy 1-5 1-1 3, Porter 1-8 0-2 3, Smith 1-6 0-2 3.
Rebounds
South Vermillion (11 OFF 36 TOT): Strayer 6, Chapman 5, Morgan 5, Branz 4, Waldrop 4, Bogetto 3, Russell 3, Uselman 3, McMaster 2, McFall 1.
North Putnam (6 OFF 22 TOT): Bean 5, C. Judy 4, Smith 4, Jeter 3, Porter 3, A. Judy 2.