Eagles fall short against Riverton Parke

MONTEZUMA -- The South Putnam boys' basketball team traveled to Riverton Parke looking to close out its regular season on a winning note Tuesday Night against the 1-19 Panthers.

The Home team prevailed 57-36 for just its second win of the season.

Both coaches said in the pre-game that it was a good match-up on paper and that it would be physical. They were right as the game got off to a hot start. The Eagles missed their first shot and the hosts went up 2-0, but South Putnam came storming back to go up 8-2.

South Putnam got baskets from senior Chad Menke, and junior Trevor Long and two free throws from Grady McHugh to end the 8-0 run. The Panthers came to fight and the quarter ended with South Putnam up 12-9.----

"We came out strong there to open the game, but got into some early foul trouble and had to sit Menke and Jacod Schroer early and that affected us on defense," Eagles' coach Greg Dean said.

The second quarter was one of the night's most exciting as the game went back and forth with the lead changing hands many times before the halftime break. Schroer scored five, including a banked three as time was running out to tie the game 19-19 at the half.

The third quarter proved to be the worst for the Eagles as they were outscored 18-7 by the hosts to send the game into the final quarter with the Panthers up 37-26.

"Turnovers were the key there in the third quarter," Dean said. "Plus the fact that we just didn't shoot well at all."

The final quarter saw the Panthers improve their lead as they outscored the Eagles 20-10 over the final eight minutes of play. Riverton Parke got 22 second-half points from sophomore Caleb Dickey to help seal the senior night win.

"We've played well over the past three to four weeks and can't let this detract from how much we've improved," Dean said. "We now have time off to get ready for the sectional. Everyone starts out with a new life and anything can happen there. We have the toughest draw with Cloverdale. We'll look at tape and work hard the next four practices and do our best."

With the win Riverton improves to 2-19 with a road game at Clay City Thursday night. The Panthers drew the bye at the Fountain Central sectional.

South Putnam closed its regular season at 3-18 and will play Cloverdale in the Speedway sectional.

AT Riverton Parke

South Putnam: 12 7 7 10-- 36

Riverton Parke: 9 10 18 20--57

Scoring:

South Putnam: McHugh 1, 2-4 6, Long 4, 3-4, 11, Schroer 2, 2-2 7, Carmichael 3, 4-6, 10 Menke 1, 0-0, 2

Riverton: Sanders 2, 2-3 6, Griffin 3, 3-4 9, Falls 3, 1-3 7, Dickey 6, 7-9 23, Edge 1, 5-9 7, Blacketer 0 1-3 1, Thomas 2, 2-3 7