Wildcats spoil Cougar homecoming

Monday, February 9, 2009
Cougar senior Scott Hunt hangs in the lane during the second quarter of Saturday's contest with South Vermillion.

By MIKE CLODFELTER

For the Banner Graphic

ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam Cougars boys' basketball team hosted the always competitive, South Vermillion Wildcats Saturday night.

Both teams entered the game on winning streaks; North Putnam with two, and South Vermillion with three.

The Cougars were coming off of an emotional 56-55 win over South Putnam the previous night, and were celebrating homecoming.

North Putnam played a solid game against South Vermillion, staying close to the taller, more experienced Wildcats. They trailed by two points at the end of the first quarter, but South Vermillion pulled away from the Cougars during the remainder of the game, spoiling North Putnam's homecoming, 60-44.

The game began with Griffen Dahlstrom, Scott Hunt, Kyle Adams, and Mitchell Crum getting into the scorebook for the Cougars, as Kyle Alcorn and Cory Dean were dishing out assists.

South Vermillion narrowly led North Putnam at the end of the first quarter, 12-10, but the Cougars shooting went cold in the second period, allowing the visitors to take a 25-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Jerrett Ban, Alcorn, and James Hedrick joined their Cougar teammates in the scoring column in the second half, as Tim Wiltermood, Crum, Alcorn, Hunt, Dean, Adams, and Brock Jones were dishing out assists around the floor, but North Putnam could not overcome the deficit they suffered in the second quarter.

"I'm proud of our kids and how hard they played tonight," commented North Putnam coach Brady Armstrong after the game.

"You have to give South Vermillion credit. They are a good basketball team and they execute very well."

"We just got beat by a better team," added Armstrong.

North Putnam was led in scoring by Hunt and Dean with eight points each.

Crum and Adams followed with seven each, Hedrick added six, Alcorn had four, and Ban and Dahlstrom closed out the Cougar scoring with two points each.

Hunt led the Cougars in rebounds with a game-high eight boards, followed by Ban and Adams with five and four caroms respectively, Ban had a game-high two blocked shots, Tim Wiltermood had a game-high three assists, followed by Alcorn, Hunt, and Jones passed for two each, and Hunt had a game-high three steals.

In the junior varsity game, North Putnam rallied at the end of the game to defeat South Vermillion, 50-44.

James Hedrick led the Cougar's in scoring with 16 points, followed by Tim Wiltermood with seven.

Travis Franklin and Brock Jones had six points each, Jacob Lucas followed with five, Payne Stewart and Hank Spencer scored four each, and Kolten Everts closed out the Cougar scoring with two points.

The Cougars (3-12, 2-2 WCC) host Speedway Monday (tonight) night, in a West Central Conference game. The junior varsity game begins at 6:00.

At North Putnam

North Putnam1041317-44
South Vermillion12131520-60

North Putnam (3-12, 2-2 WCC)

Wiltermood 0-0 0-0 0, Crum 3-12 0-0 7, Alcorn 1-6 1-2 4, Ban 1-6 0-0 2, Hunt 3-7 2-3 8, Dean 3-4 0-0 8, Adams 3-6 1-1 7, Dahlstrom 0-2 2-2 2, Jones 0-3 0-0 0, Hedrick 2-3 0-0 6, Spencer 0-0 0-0 0, Enders 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-49 FG, 6-8 FT, 44 TP.

South Vermillion (6-9, 0-4 WIC)

Laswell 3-5 5-9 11, Reyher 4-9 8-10 16, Haltom 0-0 0-0 0, Walsh 5-10 1-1 11, Craigmyle 1-1 0-0 2, Mumaw 2-3 2-4 6, Harpenau 6-12 2-2 14, Scott 0-0 0-0 0, McMasters 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 21-40 FG, 18-28 FT, 60 TP.

3-pt. FG - NP 6-20 (Crum 1-8, Alcorn 1-4, Hunt 0-1, Dean 2-3, Jones 0-2, Hedrick 2-2), SV 0-5 (Laswell 0-2, Reyher 0-3). Rebounds - NP 25 (Crum 2, Ban 5, Hunt 8, Dean 2, Adams 4, Dahlstrom 2, Jones 1, Enders 1), SV 27 (Laswell 4, Reyher 3, Walsh 5, Craigmyle 2, Mumaw 6, Harpenau 4, Scott 2, McMasters 1). Blocks -- NP 2 (Ban 2), SV 0. Assists -- NP 12 (Wiltermood 3, Crum 1, Alcorn 2, Hunt 2, Dean 1, Adams 1, Jones 2), SV 8 (Laswell 1, Reyher 2, Walsh 2, Mumaw 1, Harpenau 2). Steals -- NP 3 (Hunt 3), SV 8 (Laswell 1, Reyher 4, Walsh 2, Harpenau 1). Total fouls -- NP 18, SV 15. Fouled out -- Crum. Turnovers - NP 10, SV 8.

Next game -- The Cougars (3-12, 2-2 WCC) host Speedway Monday (tonight) night, in a West Central Conference game. The junior varsity game begins at 6:00.