Vauters leads Panthers to win over Cougars 58-39

North Putnam sophomore Taylor Nauert feeds a pass from the high post during a game earlier this season. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

MONTEZUMA -- The North Putnam girls' basketball team took a road trip Tuesday night to Riverton Parke. The Cougars played hard but fell short to the Panthers, led freshman point guard Tayler Vauters who had 29 points.

NPHS lost 58-39.

The Cougars opened up with a full court press, and it worked starting out, but eventually the Panthers began getting past the first line of defenders and then threw it over the last line or dribbled through getting to the basket.

"It worked for us at the outset of the game," NPHS coach Curtis Lawrence said. "Taylor (Nauert) and Bethany (Wiatt) got us some steals and some buckets. (The Panthers) made some adjustments so we pulled back."

The Panthers were led in the first half by senior Shelby Virostko with 12 points and Vauters with 15. The Panthers shot 15-of-21 from the field in the first half, which helped them to a 34-22 lead at the half.

The Cougars' defense was solidified by senior Bethany Wiatt who, with seven steals, kept the game close much of the time.

North Putnam has struggled with turnovers and fouls this year, but on Tuesday they play much more disciplined and turned the ball over 19 times and committed just nine fouls.

"That's the most disciplined we've been all year. The past couple games we've been keeping our turnovers down," Lawrence said. "We were able to play aggressive and keep the fouls down."

In the second half, the Cougars relaxed their defense and switched to a zone. The Panthers kept finding the open man and putting up shots, but unlike the first half, the shots weren't falling. The only attempts that were falling were treys from Vauters, who hit four in the half.

"We made adjustments and started siding the post instead of being behind. We got some help from the backside," Lawrence said.

The Cougars struggled in the third, only getting 10 shots off and scoring only four points.

"Typically we have one quarter where we struggle and usually it's the third quarter." Lawrence said. "If we could put one whole game together I think we'd be a pretty solid ball club."

At Riverton Parke
North Putnam....18 8 4 13 -- 39
Riverton Parke.....18 16 16 8 -- 58