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GHS girls win WCC outright
ROACHDALE--A strong second half by the North Putnam girls' basketball team wasn't enough to take the homecoming win Friday. Greencastle took the win on the road, 40-23. With the win, Greencastle earns the WCC championship a little more than a week before its sectional.
The first half was all Greencastle. The Cougars had a hard time dealing with the press.
"Our defensive pressure did a good job," GHS coach Bradley Key said. "We did a good job putting full-court man pressure on them. We rotated well. Sometimes it wasn't the first or second player, but the third person getting the steal. That helped build the lead."
North Putnam junior Taylor Nauert scored the only basket in the first and junior Madisyn Smith scored the second bucket in the second quarter.
Greencastle, meanwhile, spread the ball around with many players contributing to its 17-point halftime lead.
Sophomore Mia Stevens was the main beneficiary of the seven steals by Greencastle, netting eight first-half points.
Key said the full-court pressure played its role in getting the advantage on the scoreboard.
"It's really the only reason we had the lead," Key said. "North Putnam's half-court defense is solid. They did a really good job against us tonight. Most of our points were just off of skills. I know the score wasn't indicative but that team has gotten a lot better."
North Putnam wasn't ready to throw in the towel. Nauert hit a three and Smith hit two threes. A 13-point third quarter by the Lady Cougars led to a 10-point deficit after three quarters.
"They started hitting shots," Key said. "In the first half they really didn't look to shoot a whole bunch. In the second half they started to look to hit them. They did. We literally had to go back to the full-court press just to stimulate our offense."
But Greencastle matched that point total in the fourth, when junior Bethany Burgeson sprang to life with two threes and senior Delanie Stoltey adding another. Senior Callan Taylor's four points were enough to seal the win despite Nauert's two threes in the final quarter.
"We still have a week before sectional," Key said. "We still have a dress rehearsal but I'm really proud of the girls. Winning conference is always an accomplishment no matter what year or who you are playing. It's awesome for the seniors because their number is going to be hanging from a banner forever. Really proud of that group."
North Putnam head coach Jim Spencer was unable to be reached after the game.
At North Putnam
Greencastle 13 8 6 13 -- 40
North Putnam 2 2 13 6 -- 23
Greencastle -- Stevens 5-12 2-5 12, Taylor 4-11 2-2 10 pts, Burgeson 3-8 0-2 8, Stoltey 3-8 8, White 1-4 2
North Putnam -- Nauert 5-10 13, Ma. Smith 3-12 8, Clodfelter 1-4 2,
3-point Shot--Greencastle 4-11 (Burgeson 2-5, Stoltey 2-3, Taylor 0-2, Bragg 0-1) North Putnam 5-12 (Nauert 3-7, Ma. Smith 2-6,) Rebounding --Greencastle 27 ( White 8, Stevens 6, Stoltey 4, Burgeson 4, Shuee 2) North Putnam 21(Nauert 6, Ma. Smith 5 Henninger 4, Smith 2, Millican 2, B Smith 2, Evans 1, Clodfelter 1) Assists: Greencastle 5 (Taylor 5) North Putnam 8 ( Clodfelter 3, Nauert 1, Henninger 1, Ma. Smith 1, Mo. Smith 1, B. Smith 1) Steals: Greencastle 13 (Stevens 5, Taylor 2, Burgeson 2, Trout 2, Bragg 2) North Putnam 7 (Henninger 2, Clodfelter 2, Nauert 1, Mo Smith 1, B. Smith 1, Blocks: Greencastle 2 (Stoltey 1, Stevens 1) North Putnam 4 (Nauert 4)