The Clovers started out strong, but nearly gave it up

The Clovers started out strong, but nearly gave it up.

The Cloverdale High School boys' basketball team defeated North Putnam, 68-55, ending the Cougars four-game winning streak.

"It was team win tonight," CHS Coach Pat Rady said following the Clovers win. "To come back and win two county games is tough because this county is so well balanced and North Putnam is tough,"

The Cougars stayed right with Cloverdale, exchanging basket for basket, but at the 4:55 minute mark in the first quarter, Cloverdale went on a 10-0 run that resulted in a lead that would never be relinquished. Cloverdale would go on to outscore the Cougars 25-14 in the first quarter.

Cloverdale didn't let up in the second quarter either. It outscored North Putnam again 18-9 with Chase Haltom leading the way with 13 points.

At the break Cloverdale sat on a 20-point, 43-23, point lead.

Cloverdale dominated the first half of the game, but in the third quarter it was all North Putnam.

The Cougars held the Clovers to a mere eight points in the third quarter while lighting up the scoreboard with 19 points of their own.

The Cougars opened the period with a 9-0 run before Haltom hit a three-pointer to put the Clovers on the board.

The Cougars continued to dominate, especially in the paint. The Clovers were all but helpless against Lee Fordice. Fordice scored nine of the Cougars 19 third quarter point, including five of the Cougars last six points that closed out their 6-0 run.

After the third quarter the Cougars were only down by nine and would get as close as seven, but would never overcome the Clovers initial lead. Cloverdale outscored the Cougars 17-13 in the last quarter for the final.

"They did a good job of finding open guys," NPHS Coach Wes Peek said. "They played a good game and had guys scoring for them that hadn't scored a lot.

"I wish we could have started the way we finished."

Rady was more than happy with his team and they way they defended the Cougars.

"I was pleased with our defense with as many personels we had to give," he said. "This ball club was on a four-game win streak and we had to come here and play our best.

"It was typical hard fought Putnam County basketball game," Rady said.

Cloverdale's offense was led by Haltom who scored 27 points followed by Craig Blair who had 13 and McCammom chipped in 11 points. Luke Lovins scored four points for the Clovers.

The Cougars were paced by Fordice's 22 points while Riley McGaughey and Jake Mullis scored 12 points each. Brayden Dahlstrom came through for five points while Colby Ensor scored four.

The Clovers are now 9-3 overall and 3-1 in the West Central Conference while the Cougars fall to 5-5 on the season and 1-2 in the WCC. Cloverdale is back in action on Friday when it hosts South Putnam at 7: 30 p.m. and the Cougars will play again on Friday when they travel to Greencastle for a 7:30 p.m. start.

At North Putnam

Cloverdale 25 18 8 17 -- 68

North Putnam 14 9 19 13 -- 55

NP -- Ensor 2 0-1 4, C. Fordice 0 0-0 0, L. Fordice 9 4-6 22, McGaughey 3 5-6 12, Dalhstrom 2 1-2 5, Mullis 3 5-6 12, Blaydes 0 0-0 0, Deibold 0 0-0 0, Dahlstrom 0 0-0 0, Schreiber 0 0-0 0, Alcorn 0 0-0 0. Totals -- FG 19-43, FT 15-21, TP 55.

CL -- Neese 5 0-2 13, Blair 6 0-0 13, Haltom 8 9-10 27, Faletic 0 0-0 0, Trinkle 0 0-0 0, McCammon 2 5-7 11, Cooper 0 0-0 0, Lovins 2 0-0 4, Dean 0 0-0 0. Totals -- FG 23-48, FT 14-19, TP 68.

3pt-FG -- NP 1 (Mullis), CL 10 (Haltom 4). Rebounds -- NP 20 (Fordice 11), CL 19 (Neese 7). Steals -- NP -3 (three players with one each), CL 5 (Haltom 3). Assists -- NP 6 (McGaughey 4), CL 7 (Haltom 3). Blocks -- NP 1 (Ensor), CL 1 (Neese). Total Fouls -- NP 17, CL 17. Fouled Out -- None.

Next Game -- North Putnam travels to Greenacastle and Cloverdale hosts South Putnam. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.