Free throws doom Eagles in loss to Cadets

Saturday, December 14, 2013
Klayton Vittetow fights to get a shot off for South Putnam. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

CLAYTON -- The South Putnam boys' basketball team made the 30-minute trip down US 40 to Cascade High School on a cold, snowy night Friday. The Eagles tried to even up their record but fell short 50-40.

The Eagles (1-3, 0-1 WCC) played a good game against the Cadets, but Cascade (2-3, 2-0 WCC) did more to get the win. The hosts had lost three out of their first four games and came into Friday wanting to turn things around.

Free throw shooting was the big difference in this game. The Cadets made one less field goal than the Eagles, but they made 10 more free throws. They also had four 3-pointers compared to the Eagles' two.

The game started off with a quick burst of scoring from the Cadets, but the Eagles slowed it down in the second quarter. The Eagles were able to tie the game before going in down one at the break.

"I was very pleased with our effort tonight. We played very hard," SPHS coach Troy Burgess said.

Cadet senior Colton Jones scored half of his team's points in the first half and 17 altogether. He had a strong night going 6-for-7 at the charity strike and grabbing six rebounds (four offensive).

The Eagles came out of the locker room at halftime with a confidence that looked like they could take the game over, but Cascade stole the show. Jones and fellow senior Hayden Suter led the way for the Cadets grabbing an eight-point lead for their team. Suter was 6-for-8 from the foul line.

"We turned the ball over too much." Burgess said. "Give Cascade credit. They turned their defense up a notch. We just had too many turnovers to keep up with a good team like that,"

SPHS still could not get things going in the fourth. Turnovers were a big part of their game in the quarter, and Cascade controlled the tempo. The Cadets held the ball for long periods of time and ran out chunks of clock before the Eagles had a chance to score.

Eagles seniors Sawyer Arnold and Trey Moore tried to lead their team back, scoring 17 second-half points, but it was not enough.

SPHS had their chances but shots would not fall for the Eagles.

"They were a good team," Burgess said. "They just beat us. It wasn't an effort thing. Their guys played great, and we just turned the ball over a little too much."

Burgess said he does not know whether they can beat them in the a potential sectional matchup, but their goal is to improve each game.

The Eagles will play at Southmont Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. Junior varsity will start at 6 p.m.



South Putnam (40): Moore 17, Arnold 10, Vittetow 6, Long 4, Mitchell 2, Chestnut 1. Total 16-33 6-8 40.

Cascade (50): Jones 17, Suter 13, Butler 8, Burch 5, Comer 3, Hostetler 2, Parsons 2. Total 15-37 16-25 50.

South Putnam......7 14 9 10 -- 40

Cascade.............13 9 16 12 -- 50

Team Stats

_SPCascade
3PM-3PA2-64-13
OR-DR-Total5-19-247-11-18
Assists22
Blocks01
Turnovers188
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