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Eagles, Clovers win county
ROACHDALE --It was a lucky day for the Cloverdale girls' eighth-grade team and the South Putnam seventh-graders as each team completed its season as Putnam County Champions Thursday night.
The night started with South Putnam's 41-13 victory over Greencastle. GMS came into the game after a 37-6 win over Cloverdale Tuesday.
The Lady Eagles, who defeated North Putnam in the first round on Tuesday, jumped to a big first-quarter lead. Bree Mahoney-Sutherland picked up four points in the first quarter, while Alex Steffy, Drew Steffy and Brionna Egold each added a bucket for South Putnam's 11-2 first quarter lead.
Valarie Pham was the Greencastle offense's most productive player early, knocking down a bucket in each the first and second quarters. South Putnam, however, used its full-court zone pressure to force GMS into tough situations. The Eagles were able to capatilize and build a 21-4 halftime advantage.
"I've had a good season with these girls," Eagle coach Jill Newton said. "They are good girls with a lot of good values. I hope they continue to work hard."
South Putnam kept the pressure in the second half and the Eagles were up 32-6 after three. Pham scored two in each of the quarters and she scored three more points in the fourth.
There was no quit in Greencastle as Madison Williams and Mychaela Clar were each able to break down the tough South Putnam defense for a bucket.
South Putnam, though, held onto its lead and took home the county title.
"They have to fundamentally be sound," Newton said. "They have to be fundamentally sound and they have to play as a team."
Mahoney-Sutherland scored a game-high 11 points for the Eagles. Chloe Custis and Drew Steffy each had six. Ava McHugh scored five, Egold and Alex Steffy each netted four, Gracie Nees and Macie Bumgardner scored two and Sadie Proctor scored one.
The Clovers finished out their season as eighth-grade Putnam County titleholders and finished their undefeated season on St. Patrick's Day. Cloverdale beat South Putnam 45-30 in the second game Thursday, ending its season at 14-0.
"This group knows they have a long way to continue this in high school," CMS coach Matt Langdon said. "But for them to start as fourth-graders in a little league and not win a game. Then they had Indy hoops and probably played 100 games all together. So it's a neat moment for them to finish their middle school career undefeated."
South Putnam came into the game off a 29-18 victory over North Putnam Tuesday, but found itself down early. Cloverdale was using a full court-zone to force turnovers and get quick buckets.
CMS was up 13-3 after one but while Cloverdale was using its shooting and defense to pick up buckets, South Putnam continued to fight against the zone and eventually the Eagles were able to get points from the line.
Grace Garner scored two points from the line and two points from the floor in the second, Alexis Vanihel added three foul shots and a bucket two her free throw in the first quarter and Alex Bratcher scored a three the help SPMS win the second quarter 12-8.
Cloverdale spread the ball around on offense, as six players got in on the scoring to help CMS to a 21-15 halftime lead. The third quarter remained close and got more physical as each team fought tooth-and-nail for possession of the ball.
Samantha Shrum picked up eight points in the third quarter but Cloverdale was outscored by the Eagles again, 11-10.
"You've got to give a lot of credit to South Putnam," Langdon said. "We've played them twice now and they have given us some of the best games this year. So a lot of credit goes to their coach and their girls on that side for their effort."
Cloverdale held a 31-26 lead after three quarters and the Clovers were able to hold SPMS to just four points in the final quarter while putting up 14 points themselves.
The Clovers went back-to-back and undefeated Putnam County Champions and will finish their career at CMS with a 28-0 record.
Shrum led all scorers with 15, Shoemaker scored 11, Thomas had seven, Lakkain Price netted six. Wade scored four and Arianna McCracken scored two.
Bratcher and Vanihel each netted eight for the Eagles, Aubrey Hill picked up all of her six points in the third, and Leighla Hazlett and Grayce Garner both scored four.