Cougars get rolled by Riverton Parke

North Putnam junior Madi Asbell finds a rare hole in the Riverton Parke defense to attempt an open layup. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN

ROACHDALE -- The North Putnam girls' basketball team knew it had a tough test ahead when they prepared to face Riverton Parke.

Even if they're graded on a curve, Tuesday's game against the No. 2 rated 1A team in the state proved to be nearly impossible to pass.

The Cougars (1-6) lost 73-23, but continued to play with passion, something that has overcome several of the Panthers (6-1) previous opponents this year.

"(The Panthers) are a solid ball club," North Putnam head coach Curtis Lawrence said. "They're doing this to everybody they play this year."

NPHS fell behind 26-5 after the first quarter and attempted only four shots.

Riverton Parke's rebounding and quickness, at times, prevented the Cougars from even inbounding the ball or getting a shot attempt.

NPHS made gradual improvements in the second period, going three-of-eight from the field, but the half ended with them trailing 46-12.

Riverton Parke seniors Sara Dickey and Paige Yando each had 18 points at the break.

"We started out in a box-and-one against Dickey; we had to switch to man-to-man when they started pulling the ball out," Lawrence said. "She's a nice player. She's going to Evansville next year to play."

Though they couldn't narrow the gap, the Cougars aggressiveness frustrated the Panthers in the second half.

Cayla Kientz's defense on Dickey slowed her down, and the switch to man-to-man defense prevented the open outside shots that the Cougars were getting in the first half.

NPHS drew seven fouls in the third period, mostly out of frustration by Riverton Parke.

"Did we play 32 minutes of solid defense? No," Lawrence said. "Did we do enough things offensively to win? No.

"But those things are going to come. You get better playing good teams, and Riverton Parke is a very good ball club."

The effort fell short, but NPHS isn't the only school to succumb to Riverton Parke.

Tuesday the fourth time in seven games the Panthers have won by at least 40 points.

Yando finished with a game-high 26. Dickey had 24.

The Cougars were led in scoring by junior Madi Asbell's nine, followed by junior Bethany Wiatt's six.

Senior Sam Lucas led the Cougars with seven rebounds.

At North Putnam
Riverton Parke -- 26 20 15 12 -- 73
North Putnam -- 5 7 7 6 -- 25