Eagle boys' team defeats rival North

Saturday, February 7, 2015
Eagle Trevor Long tries to split the defense and go to the basket. (Banner Graphic/JOHNATHON GOODE)

After an exciting girls' game beforehand, the North Putnam Cougars and South Putnam Eagles boys' teams tipped off Friday night at South Putnam. The game went back and forth, but a big fourth quarter led the way for the Eagles, 42-29.

"I thought our effort was fine," Cougar Coach Collin McCartt said. "We're at the point now where we need to make some plays. We made a few more down the stretch. We were able to get some more rebounds. Tomorrow we will have another chance to get a win."

"I thought defensively for us it was a really solid game," Eagle Coach Greg Dean said. "Statistically, we reached our statistical goals. If we can hold teams to 29 points, then we can be successful. I was really proud of the way we battled back."

North Putnam (3-14, 0-4 WCC) opened the game up leading 5-2, but the Eagles (3-14, 1-4 WCC) went on a 9-0 run to end the quarter.

The Cougars put it in high gear in the second quarter. They had five offensive rebounds in the quarter and outscored the Eagles 10-2. They had a halftime lead of 15-13.

Cougar sophomore Jordan Bean led all scores in the first half with six. He finished with 12 points and six rebounds.

South Putnam flipped the quarter score in the third quarter and started on a 6-2 run before the teams went on a three-minute scoring drought.

"My kids are always going to battle," Dean said. "They are always going to work hard."

Junior Trevor Long broke that stalemate scoring his first two points of the night. He led all scorers with 13. He also had six rebounds.

Long and fellow big man Jacob Carmichael were the catalysts in the final portions of the game. Taking a 23-17 lead into the fourth quarter both combined to score 13 of the 19 points scored by the Eagles. It did not come right away, though.

"A couple of those kids are seniors," Dean said. "I thought we got great production from a lot of guys. Trevor led the scoring with 13. I really liked our balance."

North Putnam tried making its comeback early. Kyler Jeter was fouled on for a one-and-one with 3:38 remaining and he made both to cut the lead to 23-21.

Long would respond by giving the Eagles their first score of the quarter on the ensuing possession. He sliced and diced the Cougar defense and took it straight to the hole and scored. Carmichael repeated the exact same play the next possession and had an and-one opportunity. He converted.

The Cougars could get no closer.

South Putnam shot mostly free throws down the stretch. They made 13 of 20 in the fourth quarter.

"I thought we did a better job late," Dean said. "Throughout the first three quarters we didn't do a very good job. Had we shot better early we might not have been in the position with it being close. We've just got to concentrate. I really liked that the kids shot with confidence. We kept attacking and getting ourselves to the foul line."

Rebounding was also a factor. The Cougars outrebounded the Eagles 16-12 in the first half, including 7-2 on the offensive glass. The second half flipped with the Eagles winning 11-8.

"Some of them (rebounds) were off free throws," McCartt said. "We weren't as physical the second half for some reason. Give their guys credit. They really tried to pound it low in the second half and they made some things happen."

"It was big down the wire," Dean said. "In the second quarter we gave up too many offensive rebounds. When you give a team like that second chances it hurts you. Fortunately my big guys did a nice job blocking out."

The Cougars' next game will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against South Vermillion.

South Putnam's next game will be Feb. 12 at Northview.

At South Putnam

North Putnam 5 10 2 12--29

South Putnam 11 2 10 19--42

Scoring

North Putnam(8-39 11-18 29): Bean 4-9 4-4 12, 2-10 2-2 7, Jeter 1-8 4-6 6, Smith 1-3 0-0 3, Porter 0-4 1-4 1.

South Putnam(12-29 17-27 42): Long 4-9 5-10 13, Carmichael 2-5 4-5 8, McHugh 2-5 4-4 8, Schroer 2-4 1-2 5, Menke 1-3 1-3 3, Stewart 1-1 1-2 3, Grundlock 0-0 2-2 2, Clearwaters 0-1 0-0 0.

Rebounding

North Putnam (10 OFF 24 TOT): Jeter 7, Bean 6, Porter 5, A. Judy 3, Smith 2, C. Judy 1.

South Putnam( 4 OFF 23 TOT): Carmichael 7, Long 6, Menke 5, McHugh 3, Schroer 2, Clearwaters 1.

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