Cougars fall to Eminence

Friday, February 11, 2011

ROACHDALE --After a highly productive first half, North Putnam's ability to score collapsed in the second in a 60-47 loss to Eminence in a nonconference boys basketball game Thursday on the Cougars' court.

The Cougars led 35-32 at the half. They were 3-of-19 shooting from the field and 6-of-13 at the free throw line in the second, scoring only six points in each of the final two quarters. North Putnam survived the third, trailing 44-41, and had chances to get back in the game midway through the fourth by making free throws and lay-ups.

The Eels (10-6) stretched their lead out to 53-45 with 3:54 to play.

North Putnam missed five straight free throws, including one that was the front end of a one-and-one, and several good chances for field goals over the next two minutes while holding the Eels scoreless.

"We missed five straight free throws and three lay-ups," North Putnam coach Nathan Martindale said. "That's the game. I didn't think we did a good job rebounding, but even still, if we make those free throws and lay-ups, we win the game, We didn't take care of what we needed to do."

North Putnam (5-10) made 16-of-25 (64 percent) of its field goal attempts in the first half. The Cougars also had only four turnovers.

"I thought in the first half we did a nice job moving the ball," Martindale said. "We did a good job cutting and screening."

The Cougars also did a good job getting the ball to center Jacob Lucas, who scored 11 of his 15 points in the first half.

North Putnam committed seven turnovers in the third quarter and took only seven shots from the field, making two. The Cougars cut down the turnovers to three in the fourth, but were 1-of-12 from the field.

"We got a little bit impatient and stagnant in the second half," Martindale said. "But what really killed us was the free throws."

North Putnam was 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) at the foul line in the game.

The Cougars were out-rebounded, 37-21.

Lucas had an outstanding game. The 6-foot-3 senior was 6-of-11 from the field, hitting soft, post-up jumpers over Eminence's 6-foot-4 Cord Watkins, and 3-of-6 at the foul line. Lucas also had nine rebounds.

"Jacob had a really good game," Martindale said. "He was patient in the post and patient in what moves he had to make."

At North Putnam

Eminence 12 20 12 16 -- 60

North Putnam 13 22 6 6 -- 47

EMINENCE (10-6)

Szalay 4-5 0-0 8, Wagner 1-9 1-2 3, Watkins 6-10 7-12 19, Shupe 6-9 7-7 19, Gore 4-11 0-0 11, Ford 0-3 0-0 0, Peters 0-2 0-0 0, Alexander 0-0 0-0 0, Moss 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 21-49 15-21 60.

NORTH PUTNAM (5-10)

Hedrick 2-6 3-4 7, Everts 1-3 0-0 2, Lucas 6-11 3-6 15, Franklin 0-8 0-0 0, Wiltermood 2-5 2-2 7, Stewart 4-5 0-3 8, Porter 3-5 0-4 6, Muse 1-1 0-0 2, Totals 19-44 8-19 47.

3-point field goals: E 3-13 (Gore 3-7, Peters 0-1, Wagner 0-5), NP 1-4 (Wiltermood 1-2, Hedrick 0-2). Rebounds: E 37 (Watkins 17, Szalay 6), NP 21 (Lucas 9). Turnovers: E 17, NP 14. Total fouls: E 17, NP 19. Fouled out: Stewart.

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