Eagles drop to 1-1 with 31-point loss

Saturday, November 10, 2007

The South Putnam Eagles learned two things Friday night that should help them through the remaining 18 contests of the high school girls' basketball season.

First, they learned turnovers lead to points. Edgewood converted most of South Putnam's 23 turnovers into baskets en route to the 67-36 victory over the host Eagles.

And second, South Putnam learned they can not back down from a big player under the basket. Edgewood's Britney McNeely, only 5-foot-9, had 16 points and 12 rebounds to go along with the 17 points and six rebounds from 5-foot-8-inch Brooke Schutte and the 10 points and seven rebounds from 6-foot-1-inch Nikki Sims.

"We never did adjust to it. We never would stand and hold our ground. We just let (Sims) go ahead and (push us). We're not going to win ball games doing that. We talked about that in the looker room and on the bench," South Putnam coach Debbie Steffy said.

South Putnam, rallying from an early 6-0 deficit, led this contest 12-8 after one quarter with Leeah Butts, Meghan Canary, Bailey Birt and Oceaia Boetjer scoring.

The second quarter Boetjer and Birt picked up their second fouls, forcing coach Debbie Steffy to use her bench.

"I can't put them back in and risk them getting a third (foul) before the second half," Steffy said.

Canary hit two free throws to put South Putnam ahead 17-12 with 4:35 left in the second quarter. From that point, Edgewood went on a 14-3 run for a 26-20 halftime advantage.

South Putnam committed 17 turnovers and had two starters in foul trouble, yet trailed by only six at halftime.

"We were in the game. Then we came out the second half and let them score at will," Steffy said.

"I don't think we had quite as many (turnovers) the second half, but it wasn't a good situation. That's what I talked to them about at the beginning of the third quarter."

Edgewood outscored South 20-3 in the third period to break the contest open, 46-23, going into the final eight minute.

South Putnam (1-1) will now regroup for the Putnam County Tourney, Nov. 16 and 17.

At South Putnam

Edgewood 8 18 20 21 -- 67

South Putnam 12 8 3 13 -- 36

Edgewood (67) -- Beasley 4-9 2-6 10, Schutte 7-15 3-5 17, McNeely 8-13 0-0 13, Brown 1-3 0-1 3, Kalb 2-3 0-0 5, Sims 2-8 6-6 10, Cage 0-1 2-2 2, Ridge 2-6 0-0 4, Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Luther 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-58 FG, 13-26 FT, 67 TP.

South Putnam (36) -- Butts 2-2 3-7 7, Mink 0-0 1-4 1, Boetjer 2-7 1-3 5, Birt 1-6 4-6 6, Canary 3-15 9-11 15, Searles 0-0 0-0 0, Haynes 0-0 2-3 2, Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, Barnes 0-0 0-0 0, Hughes 0-1 0-0 0, Minor 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 8-30 FG, 20-34 FT, 36 TP.

3-Pt. Goals -- Edge 2-5 (Brown 1-1, Kalb 1-2, Ridge 0-2), SP 0-10 (Canary 0-8, Boetjer 0-1, Hughes 0-1). Total fouls -- Edge 28, SP 16. Fouled out -- Kalb. Rebounds -- E 44 (McNeely 12), SP 22 (Boetjer 5). Turnovers -- E 19, SP 23. JV game -- Edgewood 36, South Putnam 16.

Next game -- South Putnam (1-1) will host the Putnam County Tourney Nov. 16-17. Edgewood (1-1) will host Bloomfield on Nov. 13.

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