Menu
North Putnam comeback falls short in Edgewood loss
Riding a five-game winning streak, North Putnam looked to assert itself in the WIC boys’ basketball title race Saturday against visiting Edgewood.
A tight game throughout, the Cougars erased a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter but the Mustangs had the gas for a last push, scoring the final seven points to win 52-46.
Zach Huff scored straight from the opening tip but the home team would not see the lead for the next three-plus quarters once Caden Huttenlocker scored eight-straight points by completing a three-point play, hitting a three and knocking down a jumper off a steal.
North Putnam (5-3) got several baskets at the rim in the quarter, including from Mason Brooks, Ellis Lyons and Aaron Pickel but Edgewood (6-4) answered back with threes from Zeke Powell and Huttenlocker.
Brooks would hit a three at the horn that brought the lead down to 19-11 after a quarter of play.
Powell started the second quarter with a three that Aaron Huffman answered but the Mustangs stayed a step ahead most of the period.
A late five-point surge got the Cougars into the break trailing by seven as Huffman hit his second three of the quarter and Lyons scored off a steal, leaving the hosts a seven-point gap to climb at 30-23.
The game slowed significantly in the third quarter as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm.
Sater scored twice on drives to push the lead back out to 11 with only a Pickel free throw in reply across the first six minutes of the third quarter as both teams missed numerous looks in the field and at the free throw line.
Huttenlocker added a drive that was answered by Brooks off a Huff steal but as the period ended, North Putnam was staring at a 10-point deficit at 36-26.
Lyons opened the quarter with a drive off a loose ball scramble before Huffman halved the starting deficit with a three from the left corner.
Sater hit 1-of-2 free throws on the next trip down the floor while Pickel had a basket in the post matched by an Aiden Georges drive.
Brooks potted two free throws which were matched by a Powell jumper midway through the period.
A three from Brooks halved the deficit and a Pickel drive cut the lead to one with 3:12 to play.
Sater and Powell hit two free throws each around a Lyons basket before Brooks took the lead with an offhand four-point play.
The Cougar senior hit the first of two at the free throw line before collecting an offensive rebound off his errant second attempt, stopping on the right wing and firing home a three that gave the hosts a 46-45 lead with two minutes to play.
Edgewood calmly responded as Sater scored on a putback and added two free throws inside the final minute.
Three more free throws in the final 40 seconds helped the Mustangs seal the win as North Putnam could not get a basket after taking the lead.
The Cougars fell to 2-2 in WIC play as a result while the Mustangs improved to 3-1 in the conference.
| Edgewood | 19 | 11 | 6 | 16 | 52 |
| North Putnam | 11 | 12 | 3 | 20 | 46 |
Edgewood (52; 13-2FG; 5-3FG; 11-15 FT) — Huttenlocker 16, Sater 15, Powell 12, Doering 4, Sims 3, Georges 2
North Putnam (46; 11-18 2FG; 6-27 3FG; 6-11 FT) — Brooks 16, Huffman 9, Lyons 9, Pickel 7, Huff 5
North Putnam Stats
Rebounds — 22 (8 offensive) — Brooks 11 (3), Pickel 6 (3), Lyons 3 (2), Spencer 1, Huff 1; Assists — 10; Steals — 6; Turnovers — 9; Fouls — 13