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Cougars try to top Eagles for third straight time
The North Putnam Cougars boys' basketball team received a favorable draw in the first round of Sectional 44 play in terms of record when the Cougars learned they drew the South Putnam Eagles.
"I am happy we have this challenge because it keeps us focused, we have the confidence that we can go out and win but at the same time we have the respect for South Putnam and the way they have been recently able to stay focused and to know that we have to put out great effort to win," NPHS head Lukas Haworth said.
The drawback of the Cougars' (10-10, 3-2 WCC) draw is that the Eagles (4-15, 0-5 WCC) are the host school. They are also county and conference foes. To add even more pressure, this will be the third meeting between the schools this year, none of which have been on the Eagles' home floor.
"When you talk about Sectionals you say 'ok is it someone you have to beat a third time? Is it a county or conference rival? Is it the host school?' In this case the answer to all those questions is yes," Haworth said. "It makes it a very difficult challenge, but one we are up for."
In the first meeting of the year on December 7 the Cougars defeated the Eagles 65-48 at Greencastle in the first round of the Putnam County Classic.
The second meeting of the year on February 7 was much tougher for the Cougars as they defeated the Eagles 45-42 in Roachdale.
NPHS finished second in the county tournament losing to Cloverdale in the final. In conference play NPHS finished third in the conference losing to only Cloverdale and Greencastle.
North Putnam has already accomplished a big task for the program this year as they finished with double digit wins for the first time since Wes Peek's squad went 10-10 in the 2006-07 season seven years ago. This was one of the team's goals coming into the season and they look to tack on even more wins.
"This is only the third time in the last 10 years that a North Putnam boys' basketball team has finished with double digit wins so anytime you can do historical like that you should be very proud of the effort of the boys and especially under a new coach and program which shows their desire to win," Haworth said
If the Cougars are able to take home the win against the Eagles they would also become the first team since Bill Brothers' 2003-04 Cougar team to win 11 games.
One more big thing that North Putnam has hanging over them is they have not been able to win a sectional game in a dozen years. The last team to do that was Brothers' 2001-02 19-6, Greencastle sectional champion team and regional runner-up team.
The Cougars would face the winner of Cloverdale (19-1, 5-0 WCC) and Speedway (13-6, 4-3 ICC) which would be a tall task but one they are going to be ready for.
The six Cougar seniors, Shane Beaman, Coy Flynn, Beau Green, Bennett Hazelgrove, Josh Munns and Jordan Nauert have been instrumental in the team's success this year and they will need to fill their roles if they want to make magic happen in the tournament.
"The seniors have been amazing. I could not ask for a better group of men to start off my coaching career. They worked as hard as anyone that I have ever been around on a basketball floor. The one thing I knew about them was they wanted to win and they wanted to do it together. I know that I have six young men that will be very successful in everything that they do," Haworth said.
First year head coach Haworth is ready for a challenge and is ready and eager to make an impact on tournament play in his first IHSAA bout and gives one tournament expectation.
"To win it. You do not go in thinking any less. That is what it is all about," Haworth said. "You go in to South Putnam knowing there is no game on Friday because if you do not win that is it.
"The one thing that any player or coach knows is that in Indiana high school basketball when it comes to tournament time anything can happen. We believe that we can be a major part in that and we believe that we can have a say in who wins that sectional," Haworth said. "And we plan on it being us."
North Putnam faces South Putnam on Wednesday March 5 at 7:30 at South Putnam High School.