Cloverdale girls slip by South Putnam

Friday, January 26, 2007

Cloverdale High School girls' basketball coach Bruce Cook noticed his team was getting killed on the boards in Friday's game against South Putnam.

So at halftime, he changed his strategy.

"We felt like we were settling for the outside shot, so we switched offenses and put more people down low," Cook said following the Clovers' 51-44 win over the Eagles Friday.

The result eliminated a rebound deficit of seven in the first half to outrebounding South Putnam at the end of the game, 38-35.

Of the 38 rebounds, 16 were on the offensive end of the court and 13 of the total came from Kristin McCammon.

"She got a lot of long rebounds," Cook said of the sophomore, who benefited from the change because she was on the weak side of the court.

"She was over there by herself," Cook added.

South Put-nam coach Debbie Steffy said Clover-dale's offensive rebounds hurt her squad Friday, especially offensive putbacks from Elizabeth Cheatham.

"She made the difference in the second half," Steffy said of Cheatham, a sophomore. "That helped out their cause in the second half."

The win wasn't easy for the Clovers, as the Eagles managed to stay right there until the end.

South Put-nam had a 23-22 lead late in the second quarter -- its final lead of the game -- before Cheatham converted a three-point play to pull the Clovers ahead by two. 'Cloverdale had a two-point lead at halftime.

"We couldn't break that six-point barrier," Steffy said. "But I'm proud of the way our girls played. Cloverdale is a good team."

The Eagles found themselves in a game of cat and mouse throughout much of the third period. When they would hit a basket, Cloverdale seemed to find an answer.

Cloverdale's lead extended to eight, 48-40, with 1:09 remaining in regulation after two free throws from Hannah Monnett.

South Putnam's Megan Robinson hit a jumper to bring the Eagles within six, but Chelsie Haltom sealed the game with two more free throws.

"I really thought South Putnam played well," Cook said. "South Putnam is always a tough team to play."

Monnett paced the Clovers with 14 points while Haltom and Cheatham both had 11.

South Putnam was paced by Bailey Birt's 13 points. Birt also had six rebounds.

The Eagles (7-11, 1-4) face Clay City on the road Tuesday while Cloverdale (11-7, 4-1) take on Shakamak on the road Tuesday.

At South Putnam

Cloverdale 12 14 12 13 -- 51

South Putnam 11 13 11 9 -- 49

Cloverdale -- Monnett 4-9 3-4 14, Koosman 0-9 4-6 4, Haltom 4-10 2-2 11, McCammon 2-10 2-3 7, Moon 0-2 0-0 0, Cheatham 5-7 1-1 11, Schroer 2-9 0-0 4. Totals 17-56 FG, 12-16 FT, 51 TP.

South Putnam -- Canary 2-12 2-2 6, Stanifer 1-3 0-0 2, Birt 4-9 5-6 13, Searles 4-12 8, Robinson 2-5 0-0 4, Boetjer 3-16 1-2 9, Butts 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 17-58 FG, 8-10 FT, 47 TP.

3-pt. FG -- CHS 5-18 (Monnett 3-6), SPHS 2-13 (Boetjer 2-9). Rebounds -- CHS 38 (McCammon 13), SPHS 35 (Searles 10). Blocks -- CHS 2 (Koosman, Cheatham), SPHS 3 (Birt, Searles, Boetjer). Assists -- CHS 8 (Monnett, Haltom 3), SPHS 10 (Boetjer 3). Steals -- CHS 6 (Monnett, Haltom 2), SPHS 4 (Robinson 2). Total Fouls -- CHS 12, SPHS 15. Fouled Out -- None. Turnovers -- CHS 14, SPHS 16.

Next Game -- The Clovers 11-7, 4-1) face Shakamak on the road Tuesday. South Putnam (7-11, 1-4) takes on Clay City on the road Tuesday.

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