NPHS takes victory on game winner

Sunday, January 31, 2016

By MASON ASHER, For the Banner Graphic

NPHS' Treyton Smith scored 20 points against Western Boone Saturday night. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

ROACHDALE-- The North Putnam boys' basketball team got out to a fast start at home Saturday against the Western Boone Stars but a slow second quarter almost did them in before hit a layup with a second left to win, 51-49.

"We played gutty," Cougar coach Collin McCart said. "These guys had a great week of practice. For these guys to go on the road last night and win against a county rival and then with little practice time and only about 30 minutes of film, they were really good defensively."

The Cougars (5-13, 0-5 WIC) opened up the game at a quick pace and controlled the entire first quarter. The Cougars played good defense and forced the Stars (7-10) into many bad shots while taking good shots of their own.

The referees called a tight game though with four Cougar players picking up two fouls each in the first half and three Stars doing the same. The fouls really hurt the Cougars as the Stars got to the line early in the second quarter and made 5-of-7 free throws en route to a 19 point second quarter.

"I thought with how close the calls were being made in the first half since we were in position for rebounds we got them in a little bit of foul trouble too," McCartt said. "That is one thing we have continued to get better at is rebounding."

The Cougars doubled their scoring total from the first quarter to the second, scoring 10 points while only shooting 30 percent in the first half. The Cougars also had just 24 shots since they turned the ball over eight times, leadingto six Western Boone points.

In the second half the Cougars controlled the game. They came out fast and furious scoring 31 points while holding the Stars to just 26 second-half points. The zone defense that the Cougars were in seemed to work well.

The Stars pressured the ball in the fourth quarter once the game got close and the guard combo of sophomore Treyton Smith and junior Preston Porter handled it well. The full court press did not work out to well as it only forced one turnover. Smith finished the game with 20 points and eight assists.

"We have seen a lot of 1-3-1 zone and I think we are finally comfortable handling it," McCartt said. "Treyton did a great job. He had the ball in his hand 95 percent of the time and he did a good job of making plays."

With less than three minutes left in the game the Cougars opened up a 46-39 lead mostly due to Smith getting to the line and knocking down his free throws. Smith was 12-of-13 from the line on the night.

The Cougars looked to have the game in control but after a three-pointer by Western Boone to cut the lead down Western Boone started to play its style of basketball. The Stars fouled Smith again which led to two more free throws and then took the ball down and made a quick basket which made the score 48-45 in favor of North Putnam.

"We kept at it," Smith said. "We always come out in the second half shaky and tonight we came out strong and confident and kept doing our thing."

North Putnam then turned the ball over for an easy layup. Senior Kyler Jeter was fouled and went to the line for two and made one and Western Boone got the ball back. After an accidental foul they went to the line, made both, and the score was knotted up at 49-all.

Smith brought the ball up the court as time was winding down and looked to score. Smith drove to the basket, saw Jeter's man come off of him and threw him a slick pass, Jeter dribbled and went up strong for the layup between two guys.

"A lot of stuff is going through my head," Smith said. "It was the best feeling of my life, I saw him open and knew he was going to hit it. You have to be proud of him."

The ball went in with 1.2 seconds left and the desperation shot by Western Boone almost went in as the ball rolled across the rim after heaving it to the other side of the court and getting off a clean 10 footer.

The win for North Putnam shows how far the Cougars have come this year and now that they have some momentum, they will look to clean some things up and stay focused on the season-long grind.

"This is a process," McCartt said. "I think it is really difficult especially for a young team like this to get better at this time of the year when it is a grind. They continue to get better and I think things are just starting to click."

At North Putnam

Western Boone 4 19 12 14 - 49

North Putnam 10 10 14 17 - 51

SCORING

North Putnam (51): Smith 3-9 12-13 20, Austin Judy 3-10 0-0 8, Jeter 3-7 1-2 6, Porter 2-5 0-0 6, Bean 2-2 0-0 4, Duff 1-4 1-2 4, Corbin Judy 1-3 0-0. Total:15-40 (7-22) 14-17, 51.

REBOUNDING (Total-offensive)

N. Putnam (30-8): Bean 6-3, Jeter 6-1, Corbin Judy 5-0, Smith 3-0, Austin Judy 2-0, Porter 2-0, Duff 1-1.