South Putnam falls to Edgewood

ELLETTSVILLE -- The South Putnam Eagles girls' basketball team tried the same trick Friday night at Edgewood that worked so well at Rockville in the season opener.

But the Edgewood Mustangs didn't fall for it.

Edgewood held off South Putnam's fourth-quarter rally for a 46-37 victory.

"I thought when we got (the deficit) down to five points (34-29), I think we exerted so much energy to get it down to that point we were just worn out. We were wasted (and) we didn't have anything else," South Putnam coach Debbie Steffy said.

South Putnam, trailing 19-6 after the first quarter and 27-15 at halftime, rallied in the second half behind the scoring of Baily Birt and the rebounding of Meghan Canary and Leeah Butts.

Birt had 12 of her team-high 14 in the final 16 minutes, while Canary, who had 27 against Rockville, was limited to just three points and eight shots from the floor.

Butts again came off the bench to net eight points and six rebounds for the Eagles.

"We thought the difference between tonight and Tuesday (at Rockville), there were stretches where we went three and four possessions without getting a shot," Steffy said.

"Where as, Tuesday we at least gave ourselves an opportunity (to score). Tonight with either (the ball) over or something it just killed us. We just didn't make good decisions tonight, as opposed to Tuesday night."

Edgewood really concentrated its defense on Canary and Birt stepped up in the second half.

"(Birt) came up big for us. She had some baseline drives, some pull-up jump shots, some outside shots, had some put backs. Obviously that gives us another person that people have to concentrate on," Steffy said.

Butts put back a rebound and Birt scored on a baseline drive to bring South Putnam within five, 30-25, with just under two minutes left in the third quarter.

Edgewood's 6-foot-1 Hannah Holmes, who scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, put the Mustangs up 34-25 going into the fourth quarter.

Back-to-back buckets by Birt got South Putnam within five points, 34-29, again. The Eagles came up with a steal and a chance to get within three, but Edgewood's Holmes blocked the shot at the other end.

Edgewood's Brooke Schutte scored two points and Leah Cage hit a three that boosted the margin back to 10 points.

Steffy said the Eagles must overcome their slow starts.

"I don't know that everybody was looking to score (in the first quarter). We were catching and we would look, but we wouldn't pull the trigger. We wouldn't shoot it," Steffy said.

"We talked about that and this year, especially, when you got an open shot you have got take that open shot. We've got to find those other (scorer) for (defenses) to concentrate on."

At Ellettsville

South Putnam (37) -- Robinson 0-5 7-8 7, Birt 6-11 2-4 14, Searles 1-2 0-0 0 2, Canary 1-8 1-2 3, Stanifer 0-2 0-4 0, Boetjer 1-5 0-0 3, Butts 2-2 4-6 8. Totals 11-35 FG, 14-24 FT, 37 TP.

Edgewood (46) -- Schutte 3-11 3-4 9, Holmes 7-22 2-9 16, Cage 4-7 0-2 10, Duncan 3-10 0-0 6, Kalb 0-4 0-0 0, Brown 0-4 0-0 0, McNeely 1-3 0-0 2, Beasley 1-5 0-0 2, Sims 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-67 FG, 5-15 FT, 46 TP.

South Putnam 6 9 10 12 -- 37

Edgewood 19 8 7 12 -- 46

3Pt. FG -- South Putnam 1-5 (Boetjer 1-2, Canary 0-2, Robinson 0-1), Edgewood (Cage 2-2, Duncan 0-2, Beasley 0-2, Kalb 0-1). Total fouls -- SP 11, E 16. Fouled out -- Brown. Rebounds -- SP 37 (Birt 10, Canary 9), Edgewood 40 Holmes 10). Turnovers -- SP 22, E 14. Steals -- SP 6 (Canary 6) E 14 (Holmes 4).

JV game -- Edgewood 29, South Putnam 9.

Next game -- South Putnam (1-1) will host the Putnam County Tournament on Nov. 17 and 18. Edgewood (1-1) travels Bloomfield on Tuesday.