Eagles on to sectional final

Saturday, February 14, 2015
Eagles freshman Miranda Bieghler scored nine points in the semifinal.

In the third meeting of the year between the Cloverdale and South Putnam girls' basketball teams, the Eagles came out on top in the sectional semifinal Friday night 43-30 and will move on the sectional championship against Covenant Christian.

"It's a huge combination of emotion," Eagle senior Emily Dobson said. "Obviously we're just celebrating this moment. I'm just so thankful again for the opportunity to move forward and play again as a team. We are very focused. We were talking on the locker room and we are ready for (Saturday)."

The game held true to form in the beginning with both teams exerting effort on both ends.

Clover junior Haley Hamm pulling up for a jumper. She had a game-high 17 points. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Clover junior Haley Hamm scored all nine of Cloverdale first-quarter points, making shots from all over the court.

The Eagles, meanwhile, were not letting it fly from deep as their 12 first-quarter points all came as a result of shots near the rim. They also spread the ball around with five players getting in on the action.

"We talked to them and told them that this is what we are here for," Eagle coach Garver said. "I'm just really proud. We put together a plan with some stuff that we wanted to do. They came through and executed."

South Putnam's Lillie Stein takes a jumper from the top of the key. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

The defensive game picked up in the second quarter as both teams found it difficult to make points. Eagle junior Katie Hewitt muscled her way to the line again after making two foul shots in the first, while Lady and Stein made a three and a two respectively.

Cloverdale also struggled to find the hoop. Hamm hit another three and senior Bailee Stevens knocked down a jumper.

"Everything that had to with effort and heart tonight we did well," CHS coach Matthew Langdon said. "It takes effort and heart to rebound. I think we came pretty close to coming equal and with their bigs that is great."

Bailee Stevens drives the baseline against Emily Dobson. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Stevens, who was quiet on the scoring front, with just four points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out three assists and junior Angela Pieper had nine.

After a halftime score of 18-14 with South leading, the Eagles caught a few breaks that allowed them to get ahead. Freshman Miranda Bieghler cashed in on a shot from long range and Dobson scored four points in the third.

South Putnam outscored Cloverdale 9-6 in the third. Hewitt, who scored 12 in the game, also grabbed 10 boards with Dobson getting eight.

Eagle junior Katie Hewitt had 12 points in the semifinal. (Banner Graphic/JAY LOCKETT)

Going into the fourth the Clovers were only down seven and they brought their best offensive quarter scoring 10, but were unable to slow down the Eagles who also brought their best quarter, scoring 16 points, eight from the foul line.

"Until the end when we had to foul, we had them in the mid-thirties," Langdon said. "Not many teams are going to hold South Putnam to 30. So everything that we could do effort-wise with the desire to win the game, we did tonight."

The Lady Eagles once again credited their coaches for the inspiration at halftime.

"Our coaches are so motivational," Dobson said. "We just can't thank them enough. We just honed in on the little things that so many coaches really stress. I think that is what let us take off in the second half and get a win."

The Clovers will lose Madison Smith, Laura Worthington and 2014 county player of the year Stevens to graduation and Langdon says he hopes his underclassmen take their lead next season.

"I told my younger girls to learn from these seniors," Langdon said. "Each one of the seniors had great qualities. Madi Smith came in a accepted her role and had a great attitude all year. Laura Worthington has been a four-year player with a great attitude. You'll never hear a bad thing said about her by anybody.

"Bailee Stevens has brought almost a different culture to us with toughness," Langdon continued. "Being her size, and leading the conference in rebounds one year, that overall toughness you can't teach."

South Putnam will be looking for its first sectional championship since it went back to back in 2004 and 2005.

"I'm just glad we are in this opportunity and I'm proud of this team and these kids," Garver said. "They deserve to be in this championship game (Saturday)."

At South Putnam

IHSAA sectional No. 44

Cloverdale 9 5 6 10 -- 30

South Putnam 12 6 9 16 --43

Individual Stats

Cloverdale 10-50 (Hamm 6-18 1-3 17, Stevens 1-11 2-4 4, Worthington 1-5 2-2 4, Walker 1-3 3, Dorsett 1-6 2) South Putnam 15-43 (Hewitt 4-7 4-7 12, Bieghler 3-9 2-2 9, Dobson 4-8 8. Stein 1-11 3-6 5, Higgins 1-1 2-4 4, Lady 1-3 3, Carmichael 1-2 2)

Team Stats

3-point shots 5-15 (Hamm 4-7, Walker 1-2) South Putnam 2-5 (Bieghler 1-1, Lady 1-2) Rebounds Cloverdale 29 (Stevens 10, Pieper 9, Dorsett 5, Worthington 4, Hamm 2, Meek 2, Walker 1, Huge 1) South Putnam 34 (Hewitt 10, Dobson 8, Bieghler 4, Modglin 4, Stein 3, Higgins 2, Carmichael 2, Lady 1) Assists Cloverdale 6 (Stevens 3, Pieper 1, Dorsett 1, Meek 1) South Putnam 4 (Bieghler 2, Stein 1, Hewitt 1) Steals Cloverdale 6 (Pieper 2, Worthington 1, Dorsett 1, Stevens 1, Hamm 1) South Putnam 6 (Bieghler 4, Higgins 1, Modglin 1) Blocks Cloverdale 3 (Stevens 1, Dorsett 1, Worthington 1) South Putnam 4 (Stein 1, Dobson 1, Bieghler 1, Hewitt) Fouls Cloverdale 20 South Putnam 17

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