Eagles battle, lose at Owen Valley 69-47

SPENCER -- The South Putnam girls' basketball team wrapped up a brutal stretch in its schedule with a loss at Owen Valley on Tuesday 69-47.

The Eagles battled and, led by a career-high 16 points from junior Emily Dobson, got the Patriots into foul trouble and fought their way out of a hole with an 11-4 second quarter that put the South Putnam down 28-22 at halftime.

"We're coming together," SPHS coach Bill Merkel said.

Dobson did most of her damage in the second half. Senior Amanda Barnes had eight of her 11 in the first.

The Eagles responded to the full court press from Owen Valley with a variety of press breakers, working the ball up to the center of the court and beat the Patriots to the basket.

The press worked intermittently, but after Owen Valley committed seven fouls in the first quarter it was forced to back off and allow the Eagles into their half court offense, where they flourished.

With the slower pace, South Putnam did a better job possessing the ball, which took away fast break chances that the Patriots had capitalized on in the first, though it wasn't the press that got the Eagles, it was the unforced errors.

"I don't mind if we turn it over if we're getting trapped," Merkel said. "It's when there's nobody up on us and we travel. ... If we just eliminate some of those, I think we'll be alright."

Those mistakes crept up again in the third quarter when the Eagles turned the ball over nine times and led the Patriots complete a 21-8 frame.

South Putnam settled again in the fourth, passing more crisply.

Senior Aubrey Nichols had three assists in the fourth, all for layups to Dobson and sophomore Katie Hewitt. Nichols had five points and four assist in the game.

Hewitt led the Eagles with nine rebounds.

Senior Alicia Wilson was a menace for the Patriots. She finished 9-for-16 from the field, 11-for-15 at the line and totaled 30 points and 12 steals.

Senior Sarah Jones had all 20 of her points after halftime. She also led the Patriots with eight rebounds.

South Putnam is off for two weeks before playing South Vermillion on Jan. 2. That game will take place at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

"We've been through a ferocious part of the schedule," Merkel said.

South Putnam (47): Dobson 4-7 8-10 16, Barnes 3-6 5-6 11, Nichols 1-9 2-2 5, Modglin 2-2 0-0 4, Hewitt 2-2 0-0 4, Arnold 2-2 0-0 5, Lady 1-5 1-2 3, Higgins 0-1 0-1 0. Total 15-34 16-21 47.