Turnovers key to Eagles' loss

Monday, December 1, 2008
Noah Boswell

By TIM TUTTLE

For the Banner Graphic

ELLETTSVILLE -- South Putnam was crushed by an avalanche of turnovers Saturday in a 70-36 loss to Edgewood in a nonconference boys basketball game on the Mustangs' court.

The Eagles (0-2) were stripped off the dribble, had passes intercepted or thrown out of bounds or committed violations 31 times. Edgewood (1-0) converted many of them into lay-ups or uncontested shots.

"We didn't play smart as a team in the second half," first-year South Putnam coach Micah Elliott said. "We put ourselves in bad situations. We didn't carry over things from practice, which is disappointing. There are so many fundamental aspects we have to address, it's going to take time."

Elliott admits Edgewood's full-court man-to-man pressure was a challenge.

"Their pressure was good and they have very athletic kids all around," Elliott said, "but not for us to have 31 turnovers. Our mental weakness contributed to that. We had the same thing happen against Turkey Run (a 59-44 defeat Wednesday). It's very frustrating."

South Putnam trailed 19-9 at the end of the first quarter. The Mustangs went on a 16-2 run to open the second quarter to take a 35-11 lead.

The Eagles played well in the closing minutes of the first half, going on a 10-2 run to close the gap to 37-21. Noah Boswell had six points on three baskets, Conor Frame made a 3-pointer and Cameron Chestnut a free throw in the run.

"In the first half, I thought we played smart, played hard and with purpose," Elliott said. "I told the kids the first three minutes of the second half would determine the outcome and we came out with turnovers.

"I'm not sure we got any shots then and if we did, they weren't quality shots."

Edgewood scored the initial 11 points in the third quarter and an 18-2 run opened up a 55-23 advantage. The Mustangs were in front 57-26 going into the fourth quarter and an 11-2 run put them up by 40, 68-28.

Frame led the Eagles with 11 points and Boswell had nine points and seven rebounds.

Edgewood guard J.T. Finch had 23 points, mostly from making 5-of-10 3-pointers. Guard Ryan Baugh added 16 and 6-foot-5 sophomore forward Levi Garner scored 14.

Edgewood had only nine turnovers and the plus-22 difference in the game provided it 67 field goal attempts. The Eagles had 35.

South Putnam played without 6-foot-5, 255-pound starting center Adam Masters, who has a broken bone in his left hand suffered in this season's final football game.

"Hopefully, we'll have him back for the county tournament," Elliott said.

"He's going to see the doctor this week and he'll either get a new cast or be cleared."

South Putnam will compete in the Putnam County Classic this Friday. The first game begins at 6:30 p.m.

Elliott plans to make good use of his time in practice this week, with or without Masters.

"We'll get better," he said.

At Edgewood

South Putnam 9 12 5 10 -- 36

Edgewood 19 18 20 13 -- 70

SOUTH PUTNAM (36)

Frame 4-10 2-4 11, Boswell 4-7 1-4 9, Dean 0-2 2-2 2, Welty 2-6 3-3 7, Chestnut 0-2 3-5 3, Nelson 0-2 0-0 0, Cash 2-5 0-0 4, No. 40 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 12-35 11-18 36.

EDGEWOOD (70)

Walton 4-9 0-0 8, Garner 5-7 4-6 14, Narey 1-4 0-0 2, Baugh 6-14 1-1 16, Finch 9-19 0-0 23, Meek 0-2 1-2 1, Horne 1-3 0-2 2, Blackmore 1-5 0-0 2, Raventos 1-4 0-0 2, Glaze 0-0 0-0 0, Newman 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 28-67 6-11 70.

3pt FG -- SP 1-6 (Frame 1-1, Welty 0-3, Chestnut 0-1, Cash 0-1), E 8-25 (Finch 5-10, Baugh 3-7, Walton 0-2, Narey 0-2, Blackmore 0-2, Meek 0-1, Newman 0-1). Rebounds -- SP 28 (Boswell 7), E 28 (Meek 5, Horne 5). Turnovers -- SP 31, E 9. Total fouls -- SP 10, E 16. Fouled out -- None.

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