Cougars crowned champs

Saturday, March 21, 2009
The North Putnam eighth grade girls won their second consecutive Putnam County Championship Thursday with their 46-34 win over South Putnam.

The North Putnam eighth grade girls' basketball team defeated South Putnam Thursday to gain the Putnam County championship, 46-34.

"The girls played well," Cougar head coach Jill Schreiber said. "We started out slow, but then decided to play ball. All the girls stepped up their play in the beginning of the season due to an injury."

The Cougars lost Samantha Lucas after just two games. She had been one of North Putnam's main contributors last season and Schreiber was pleased with how the team responded.

"Cassie Aynes, Cayla Kientz and Morgan Robinson stepped up the rebounding and scoring under the basket this year," she said. "Alyssa Roberts, Lauren Human and Brooke Matthews did a great job in the forward positions, making steals and scoring. Katie Welch really improved at the point guard position."

The Cougars led by five at the half and Schreiber knew the team would need to contain South Putnam's point guard and center in the second half. She acknowledged that they began to block out and stop second chance opportunities for the Eagles, which help the Cougars get the win.

Aynes led the way with 16 points, with Welch adding 14 points. Robinson and Matthews scored six each and Roberts chipped in four.

After the contest, Schreiber was more than complimentary to the Eagles and their head coach.

"South Putnam is going to be good next year," Schreiber commented. "They have the talent and the know-how to win. They played well and the coach, Holly Booe, made a lot of improvements during the season."

The Cougar coach noted that it was a total team effort, from the players on the court, to the players cheering from the sideline.

"We (the coaches) were very proud of the girls," Schreiber said. "The support of the B team girls on the bench last night was awesome. They were just as much a part of the win as the girls playing."

At South Putnam

Putnam County Championship

North Putnam 46

South Putnam 34

North Putnam -- Aynes 16, Welch 14, Robinson 6, Matthews 6, Roberts 4