Clover JV girls win county hoop title

Monday, December 12, 2016
Cloverdale won the girls' junior varsity county basketball title on Saturday.

By Gary Hazlett

For the Banner Graphic

The Cloverdale Lady Clovers used solid defense and pounded the boards as they defeated the North Putnam Cougars 36-15 to win the Putnam County junior varsity girls’ basketball tournament on Saturday.

The Clovers used a pressure defense to jump out to an 11-3 first quarter lead. Grace Rightmyer scored five of her 10 points to lead the way. According to coach Travis Dorsett, the Clovers played to their strength.

“We told the girls to do what they do best. They really played well defensively and rebounded the ball very well,” Dorsett said.

North Putnam found some answers in the second quarter. The Cougars closed the gap early in the second quarter. A bucket and two free throws and they had cut the lead to 13-7, but Cloverdale still extended its lead to 18-9 at the break.

The young Clovers really broke the game open in the third quarter. They outscored the Cougars 10-2 in the third period. The Cougars were struggling finding a way to score, while Kiley Shedron scored eight of her game-high 16 points in the quarter. Cloverdale ended the third period with a comfortable 28-13 lead.

“We moved the ball a little better in the second half. We talked to the girls about coming out and doing the things we do well and getting after it,” Dorsett said.

Cloverdale used its board work and hustling attitude to close out the game. They continued their suffocating defense and scored six of their eight points in the final period on offensive rebounds.

“We have a really hustling, scrappy bunch,” Dorsett said. “They really fought and brought it.”

Cloverdale was led in scoring by Shedron’s 16 points and Rightmyer’s 10 points. North’s Baylee Osburn and Clarissa Gibson led the way for the Cougars with four points each.

“I’d really like to thank the varsity and Matthew Langdon for how they push us in practice and support us. I’d also really like to thank Page Gruener in all she does to help the young girls,” Dorsett said.

The two semifinal games were tightly contested games that came down to final possessions in each. The Cougars advanced to the finals with a 26-24 win over Greencastle. The Cougars held on late as both teams had chances, but North held on in the first game.

Osburn led the Cougars in the first game with 10 points, while Allison Stevens led the way 11 points for the Tiger Cubs.

The second semifinal saw the Clovers win 38-37 as South Putnam had a last-second shot attempt roll around the rim and fall away as time expired.

“We were really fortunate to get to the championship game. We were one shot away from South Putnam taking it,” Dorsett said.

Shedron led the Clovers in scoring in the first game also with 11 points and Arianna McCracken added nine for Cloverdale. South Putnam’s Lexi Vanihel led all scorers with 25 points for the Eagles.

First semifinal game

GREENCASTLE (24) – Steadmon 0 0-0 0, Weliever 2 0-3 6, McClain 0 0-0 0, Slack 0 0-0 0, Stevens 2 6-7 11, Ray 2 0-0 4, Amis 2 0-0 4. Totals 8 FG, 6-10 FT, 24 TP.

NORTH PUTNAM (26) – Gibson 2 0-0 4, Simmerman 0 0-0 0, Young 2 0-0 4, Jones 0 0-0 0, Day 0 2-3 2, Tennis 0 0-0 0, O’Neal 3 0-0 6, Osburn 5 0-0 10. Totals 12 FG, 2-3 FT, 26 TP.

Greencastle 6 6 3 9 – 24

North Putnam 8 2 10 6 – 26

3-point goals – Greencastle (Weliever 2, Stevens 1) NP 0.

Second semifinal game

SOUTH PUTNAM (37) – Bratcher 2 2-4 6, Vanihel 6 12-19 25, Hazlett 0 0-0 0, Garner 1 0-0 2, Hill 1 0-0 2, Gilliland 0 0-0 0, Wyatt 0 2-2 2. Totals 9 FG, 16-25 FT, 37 TP.

CLOVERDALE (38) – McCracken 3 0-2 9, Trivett 0 0-0 0, Monroe 0 3-4 3, Royse 0 0-0 0, Monnett 0 0-0 0, Wade 1 0-0 3, Renner 0 0-0 0, Bean 1 0-0 3, Byford 4 0-0 8, Belcher 0 0-0 0, Rightmyer 0 0-0 0, Shedron 3 2-4 11, Couch 1 0-0 2. Totals 12 FG, 5-10 FT, 38 TP.

South Putnam 6 4 7 20 – 37

South Putnam 7 11 10 10 – 38

3-point goals – South Putnam 1 (Vanihel 1), Cloverdale 7 (McCracken 3, Wade 1, Bean 1, Shedron 2).

Championship game

CLOVERDALE (36) – McCracken 0 2-4 2, Trivett 0 0-0 0, Monroe 1 0-0 2, Royse 0 0-0 0, Monnett 0 0-0 0, Wade 1 0-0 2, Renner 1 0-0 2, Bean 0 0-0 0, Byford 0 2-2 2, Belcher 0 0-1 0, Rightmyer 3 3-6 10, Shedron 6 2-2 16, Couch 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 FG, 9-15 FT, 36 TP.

NORTH PUTNAM (15) – Gibson 2 0-0 4, Simmerman 0 1-2 1, Young 1 0-0 2, Jones 0 1-2 1, Day 1 0-3 2, Tennis 0 1-2 1, O’Neal 0 0-0 0, Osburn 2 0-0 4. Totals 6 FG, 3-9 FT, 15 TP.

Cloverdale 11 7 10 8 – 36

North Putnam 3 6 4 2 – 15

3-point goals –Cloverdale 3 (Shedron 2, Rightmyer 1) NP 0.

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