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Rebuilding Cougars enjoying new season, seeking improvement
Jarrod Duff is in his first year as head coach at North Putnam, and takes over a team which went 3-20 last season.
Duff, who was the head coach at Greencastle from 2001-05, is pleased with the growth of his team during his six months in charge of the program and looks for that improvement to continue.
“I see the most improvement on little things, fundamentals and defensive positioning,” he said. “We’re making stronger passes, our footwork is better and we are shooting the ball better than at the beginning of the summer. We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go in those areas.
“I’m really pleased, and I think the girls are excited,” Duff added.”Their work ethic, their attitude and their energy have been great — and that makes it easier to come in there and practice.”
Speaking earlier this week, Duff truly had no idea what his starting five would be for Thursday’s opener at North Vermillion.
The focus to date has been in improving fundamentals and installing basic game strategies, building as time goes by.
“Senior Aleah Duncan played a lot of minutes last year, and will be an important part of the team again,” Duff said. “Mia Runnels was the starting point guard last year, and she has really made tremendous improvement over the summer and in the last two weeks.”
Post players who saw playing time last year are Bronwyn Spencer and Emily Henninger (“good athlete, great improvement”.
Lyndi Parent has recovered from a knee injury and has played well in practice.
Payton Lyons, Shelby Mason, Jaden Day, Ashley O’Neal, Kayla Pace and Kinzey Young are sophomores who will also figure into the picture.
“We also have a good group of freshmen who have been working hard,” Duff said. “We haven’t yet decided who is going to be varsity or JV, or a starter or a reserve. We’ll figure that out before the first game and go from there.”
Duff said the first game is not the immediate focus for him and his players at this time.
“We’re focused on getting better every day,” he said. “We can push the ball against some teams, really we just want to take what the defense gives us.”
Leading scorer Taylor Nauert (13 points per game) graduated from last year’s team along with three other seniors.
Runnels averaged 5.5 points and 2.2 assists per game a season ago, while Henninger averaged 4.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Duff is impressed that his returning players have put last year out of their minds and are enjoying the new season.
“Last year was tough for them,“ he said. “They won a few games early, and had some struggles during the season. ”They have been really good about being coached, and we talk about how sometimes we’ll have fun in practice and sometimes they have to be coachable. I really like our mindset right now.”
While wins and losses are important, Duff and his staff realize that they not the only benefit from playing.
“We are trying to stay positive with everything, and we have a good positive vibe going on,” he said. “We want to enjoy playing basketball.
“If you don’t enjoy playing it, there’s no reason to be playing it.”
Roster
Aleah Duncan Sr.
Emilee Henninger Sr.
Lyndi Parent Sr.
Bronwyn Spencer Sr.
Allison Sawyer Sr.
Mia Runnels Jr.
Caitlyn Osborn Jr.
Shelby Mason So.
Payton Lyons So.
Jaden Day So.
Kayla Pace So.
Kinzey Young So.
2016-17 schedule
(Times listed are varsity tipoff)
Nov. 3 — at North Vermillion, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 8 — at Crawfordsville 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 10 — Monrovia 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 15 — Covington 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 18-19 — Putnam County Tournament
Nov. 22 — at South Vermillion 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 29 — at Cloverdale 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 2 — South Putnam 6 p.m.
Dec. 9 — Sullivan 6 p.m.
Dec. 16 — Northview 6 p.m.
Dec. 20 — Riverton Parke 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 29 — Speedway Tournament
Jan. 2 — North Montgomery 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 6 — at West Vigo 6 p.m.
Jan. 12 — at North Vermillion 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 — at Greencastle 6 p.m.
Jan. 17 — at Southmont 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 — Western Indiana Conference playoffs
Jan. 24 — Turkey Run 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 26 — at Eminence 6 p.m.