Eagles share ball well in beating Sheridan

Greg Dean considers a team’s assist total to be a good indicator of its effectiveness on offense.

His South Putnam Eagles were very giving to their teammates on Saturday afternoon in a 65-49 win over Sheridan

“Outside of the West Vigo game [another win], I’d say that was the highest assist game we’ve had,” said Dean, whose team won for the second time in its last three outings. “We moved the ball pretty well, and we were willing passers. A lot of guys got to touch it, and we got it to the open guy — especially down the stretch.

“I thought Eli Smith had a lot of good passes in the fourth quarter,” he added. “I thought Brent Wiggins and Kain Gregory were both active in the paint against their [2-3] zone. Guys were finding the openings, and that was good to see.”

Sheridan had the upper hand early, breaking open a 10-10 tie by scoring the final five points of the first period.

The Blackhawks edged their lead up to 22-16 with 3:12 left in the half before the Eagles scored the final nine points of the half to take a 25-22 halftime lead. Wiggins had two baskets (a tip-in and a putback) plus a free throw in that stretch.

The Eagles picked up right where they left off in the second half, scoring the first six points on two more putbacks by the ball-savvy Wiggins and a basket from Steven Schnepp for a 31-25 lead.

Sheridan came storming back, though, tying the game at 37-37 with a minute left in the third period.

The Eagles then took off on another big run, with Gregory hitting the first of two free throws, Smith hauling in the rebound of the second and scoring on a putback for a 40-37 lead at the final stop.

South scored the first 12 points of the final period to break the game open for good, getting two baskets each from Schnepp and Smith and another from Dru Teipen. Smith added a free throw to complete a three-point play.

The Eagles increased their lead to 61-43 on a Gregory basket with 2:19 left, but then let down defensively.

Sheridan’s Kyle Eden was able to get loose and draw fouls on four occasions, bringing the Blackhawks within 61-49 with 1:14 left.

They wouldn’t score again, though, and Smith and Wiggins each hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to seal the deal.

Schnepp led the Eagles with 20 points, while Smith had 14, Wiggins had 11 and Gregory had nine.

“I thought we played really good defense until a couple of minutes left,” Dean said. “I think we were up about 20 and we got beaten off the dribble too much late in the game. For the most part, we contained well and got our hands up on shooters that was a bugaboo on defense. We took their best player [Ethan Moistner] and held him to six points, when he averages about 14. Kain did a great job on him.”

South improved its record to 3-14 with the win, and takes some momentum into this week’s county tournament.

The Eagles play North Putnam in Thursday’s opener. The Cougars won a decisive 67-37 at South in the second game of the year.

“We hope it’s going to be a competitive tourney,” Dean said. “We open with North Putnam, and they’re playing well. They have all kinds of shooters, and they play really fast.

“We have to find a way to slow them down and contest and contain,” he added. “We can’t allow them to drive to open up other guys get open shots.”

SHERIDAN (49) — Shreve 0-0 0-0 0, Eden 8-14 6-10 23, Buckner 4-7 2-2 10, Roberts 1-3 1-4 3, Moistner 2-6 2-2 6, Devaney 2-3 0-2 4, Zachery 1-4 0-0 3, Murray 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-37 FG, 9-20 FT, 49 TP

SOUTH PUTNAM (65) — Schnepp 9-15 0-2 20, Smith 5-13 3-3 14, Gregory 4-5 1-2 9, Blaydes 3-6 0-0 7, Leo 0-1 0-0 0, Wiggins 4-4 3-4 11, Teipen 2-4 0-1 4, Rector 0-0 0-0 0, Switzer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-48 FG, 7-13 FT, 65 TP

3-point shooting — Sheridan 4-11 (Eden 1-2, Buckner 0-2, Moistner 2-5, Zachery 1-3), South Putnam 4-9 (Schnepp 2-3, Smith 1-1, Blaydes 1-4, Teipen 0-1). Turnovers — Sheridan 17, South 13.