Opening run sets Clover seventh-graders on course for seventh-grade title

Thursday, March 15, 2018
The Cloverdale Middle School seventh-grade girls are the 2018 Putnam County Champions.
Banner Graphic/GARY HAZLETT

The Cloverdale Clover seventh-grade girls’ basketball team got off to a good a start and then held off the North Putnam Cougars to win the Putnam County tournament at North Putnam on Thursday night. The Clovers used an 8-0 run to start the game and pounded the boards all night en route to a 29-15 victory.

“This group of girls has really worked hard and deserves to win the game. They play with a lot of energy,” Cloverdale coach Paige Gruner said.

Cloverdale held the Cougars scoreless in the first quarter and got two jumpers from Andrea Nees to lead 4-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Kirsten Wade hit two quick jump shots to start the second quarter and give the Clovers an 8-0 lead before North could get on the board. Kylie Rust gave the Cougars a boost by scoring all five points for North in the second quarter, but Cloverdale extended its lead to 12-5 at halftime. The Clover defense limited the Cougars to just 2-of-12 shooting and forced 10 first-half turnovers.

“This team really works hard on defense. We pressed and then when we got winded we kind of fell back into a (half-court) trap,” Gruener said.

North rallied in the third quarter. The Cougars scored the first four points on a couple of Kyndal Brewer jump shots and cut the lead to 12-9 early in the period. Emma Hunter gave the Clovers a shot in the arm to take control later in the quarter. Hunter scored seven of her game-high 13 points in the last four minutes of the third period. The Clovers had boosted their lead back to nine at 20-11 heading into the final quarter.

“Emma is a really good player. Her and Kiersten (Wade) really do a lot of our scoring,” Gruener said.

The Clovers continued to pull away in the fourth. Hunter had another six points, while Erin Johnson added three and the Clovers extended their lead to the final 29-15 margin and the championship.

“It was really good to get this (championship). We played well on Tuesday (against Greencastle) and again tonight,” Gruener said.

Hunter led all scorers with 13 points, while Andrea Nees had six to lead the Clovers. Brewer led North with eight points, while Rust added 7 for the Cougars.

CLOVERDALE (15) – Hunter 5-13 3-7 13, Jones 1-2 1-2 3, Wade 2-4 0-2 4, An. Nees 3-9 0-0 6, Johnson 1-5 1-2 3, Ab. Nees 0-1 0-0 0, Garrison 0-0 0-0 0, Hankins 0-0 0-0 0, Bell 0-1 0-0 0, Kerr 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-35 FG, 5-13 FT, 29 TP.

NORTH PUTNAM (14) – Rust 3-8 1-6 7, Jeter 0-1 0-0 0, Burress 0-5 0-2 0, Brewer 4-11 0-0 8, Storm 0-4 0-2 0, Miller 0-1 0-0 0, Ellis 0-2 0-0 0, Williams 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 7-33 FG, 1-10 FT, 15 TP.

Cloverdale 4 8 8 9 — 29

North Putnam 0 5 6 4 — 15

3-Point Shooting — CHS 0-1 (Hunter 0-1), NP 0-3 (Burress 0-1, Storm 0-2). Rebounds – CHS 35 (Hunter 12, Jones 8, Wade 4, Johnson 5, Garrison 3) NP – 25 (Rust 10, Jeter 1, Brewer 5, Storm 2, Miller 2) FG Pct. – CHS 34.3, NP 21.2. FT Pct. – CHS 38.5, NP 10.0. Turnovers – CHS 19, NP 20.

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