Cascade escapes with 58-53 win over SP

Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Thomas Fanning of South Putnam looks to pass out of a double team against Cascade on Tuesday night.
Banner Graphic/Joey Bennett

Young Eagles progressing despite loss

South Putnam’s Eagles did not leave Tuesday night’s boys’ basketball game against Cascade with a victory, but Greg Dean’s young team gained some valuable experience as it continues on its path toward inevitable success.

The Eagles led 13-10 after one quarter and 23-20 at halftime, but Cascade used a big 18-9 third quarter to break things open and escape with a 58-53 win.

“It was not a pretty game, and it was played to a style that benefited Cascade — especially in the second half,” Dean said, referring to a contest that involved numerous rough sequences and not enough whistles being blown. “We knew they were going to be physical, and they are athletic.”

The Eagles hit 7 of 12 field goals in the first half and used their patient style to frustrate the Cadets.

“In the first half, we controlled the tempo and found good shots,” Dean said. “We stepped up and hit them. We took steps forward, and it’s games like that which are going to prepare you for the sectional — and they’re a sectional team.”

Dean noted the teams could also meet again on Jan. 27 in the Western Indiana Conference crossover round. If Cascade loses to Indian Creek on Saturday night, the rematch would take place at Cascade.

The Cadets made no secret of their strategy right off the bat, getting the ball twice down low to muscular 6-5 junior Dalton DuBois for layups and a quick early 4-0 lead.

The Eagles responded with eight straight, on treys from Allen Plunkett and Austin Arnold and another Arnold hoop. Plunkett ended the quarter on a trey at the buzzer literally just thrown up toward the basket for a 13-10 South Putnam advantage.

Sophomore point guard Thomas Fanning, who led all scorers with 18 points, hit a pair of treys in the second quarter and freshman Steven Schnepp was perfect on four free throw attempts in the second period as the Eagles maintained their three-point lead at the half.

Plunkett missed the last half of the second quarter after picking up his second foul, and did not re-enter the game until 3:00 left in the third period after becoming ill at halftime.

The Cadets had a 9-0 run midway through the period to take control for good, and led 38-32 after three quarters.

Cascade utilized a “soft” zone press that forced the Eagles into six third-period turnovers, most of the unforced variety.

“We didn’t do a good job of handling the press coming out in the second half,” Dean said.

Wes Lesko of South Putnam (on floor) battles with Dalton DuBois of Cascade for a loose ball.
Banner Graphic/Joey Bennett

One positive occurrence during the second half was the play of junior big man Wes Lesko, who was inspired by the rough nature of play and produced six points and five rebounds for the Eagles.

“Wes did a good job of understanding what we wanted him to do, and using the emotion of the game in a positive way,” Dean said. “He gave us some good minutes defensively and rebounding the basketball.”

The Eagles didn’t cut the gap under six points until Fanning’s trey at the final buzzer.

Fanning got double figure support from Plunkett with 10 points, while Austin Arnold added eight.

Dean is not discouraged with his team despite its seventh straight loss, and realizes the tough stretch of games his team has been playing will only benefit the squad down the road.

“We came out of Christmas break kind of rusty, but we came out the last two games [Northview and Cascade] with good efforts against good teams and executing the things we needed to do,” he said. “We had a tough stretch of games in the conference that can make you better if you handle it right. This game was no different.”

CASCADE (58) — Burch 4-6 2-4 12, DuBois 6-9 3-5 15, A.Alderson 3-6 9-10 16, Stephenson 1-2 0-1 2, Hopper 2-3 4-5 8, Edwards 0-0 0-0 0, M.Alderson 0-2 2-2 2, Walker 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 17-29 FG, 21-30 FT, 58 TP

SOUTH PUTNAM (53) — Plunkett 4-8 0-0 10, Scott 1-5 0-2 2, Fanning 5-5 4-4 18, Arnold 3-6 1-3 8, Watson 0-0 0-0 0, Zeffel 2-3 1-1 5, Schnepp 0-0 4-4 4, Lesko 1-1 4-7 6, Gregory 0-0 0-0 0, Adams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-27 FG, 14-18 FT, 53 TP

Cascade 10 10 18 20 — 58

South Putnam 13 10 9 21 — 53

3-point shooting — Cascade 3-9 (Burch 2-4, DuBois 0-1, A.Alderson 1-3, M.Aldersaon 0-2), South Putnam 7-13 (Plunkett 2-5, Scott 0-2, Fanning 4-4, Arnold 1-1, Zeffel 0-1). Turnovers — South Putnam 12, Cascade 8.

Next game — South Putnam (3-9) hosts Monrovia on Saturday. Cascade improved to 9-5.

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