South Putnam avoids Sullivan collapse

It wasn't a surprise where Sullivan would go with its final chance and the South Putnam defense covered Gracie Shorter all the way around, forcing an errant layup with just a few seconds left to secure a 44-43 win.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

Wednesday’s loss at Edgewood meant South Putnam could ill afford a second-straight WIC girls’ basketball loss with Sullivan arriving Friday night.

A tight contest throughout the first half, the hosts finally created a little space in the third quarter and held a 40-29 lead with six minutes to play.

Klaire Williams’ three with 40 seconds remaining completed the Golden Arrow comeback from the 11-point deficit but the visitors gave up four chances in the final seconds and Bree Miller made the basket that would ultimately get the 2A No. 8 Eagles over the line for a 44-43 win.

“At the end of the day, this is the type of game that helps you come sectional time,” South Putnam head coach Brian Gardner said about the win. “We were in foul trouble most of the night, the first time in a while, which creates some different things for us, and we did enough in those situations.

“A one-point game is the same as a 20-point game other than it’s more difficult to coach because you really have to work at it. We’re proud of the girls at the end to gain our composure after, (Sullivan) hit a three, to go down on the other end and score a basket.”

Managing fouls would be a concept worn out by the end of the game for both teams as each side had a starter pick up two early fouls, both affecting play in different ways.

Williams opened the game with a jumper that was answered by Bree Mahoney-Sutherland underneath.

Delainey Shorter hit 1-of-2 at the line off a drive and scored not long after helping to get Mahoney-Sutherland two early fouls to take a 5-4 lead for Sullivan (9-5, 4-1 WIC).

Shorter would not go much longer in the period, however, picking up her own second foul, putting a large burden on sister Gracie Shorter to propel the visitors’ offense.

Miller and Macie Bumgardner hit two free throws each to give the Eagles (10-1, 5-1 WIC) a 10-5 lead but, as the hosts looked to extend the lead in the final seconds of the first quarter, an errant pass was snagged by Brionna Perkinson and laid in to trim the gap to 10-7.

Delainey Shorter picked up a third foul just over 30 seconds into the second period but Sullivan was in the bonus not long after as multiple South Putnam defenders were picking up fouls trying to keep pace with Gracie Shorter and Perkinson.

A three-point play from Perkinson made it a 12-11 game while Gracie Shorter hit a free throw and scored on a drive to take a 14-12 lead.

Brionna Egold scored off a steal to tie it back up at 14-14, later hitting two free throws to retake the lead for the remainder of the half at 16-15.

Hannah Teipen scored on a drive while Alexis Grindstaff hit two late free throws to make it a one-point game at halftime at 18-17.

Chloe Custis, one of several Eagles with two fouls in the first half, opened the second half with a three while Mahoney-Sutherland scored on a putback and post feed around two Gracie Shorter baskets before picking up a third foul midway thought the third quarter.

Egold converted a three-point play that drew Delainey Shorter’s fourth foul and added a jumper to make it a 30-23 game.

Macie Bumgardner turned a Gracie Shorter block into a basket but fouls again began to pile up for the hosts, putting Sullivan in the bonus in the final 30 seconds of the period while Custis picked up her fourth foul with shove of Shorter.

South Putnam took a 33-25 lead into the final period and made it a double-digit advantage right away as Lilly Vittetow opened the final quarter with a three.

Gracie Shorter turned a steal into a putback but Miller countered with a jumper to push the lead back to 11.

Williams scored in the post but so too did Mahoney-Sutherland as the hosts held a 40-29 lead with under six minutes to play.

A Williams jumper was followed by a Delainey Shorter steal and layup to trim the gap to 40-33 after the junior missed the bonus free throw.

Grace Burdge hit 1-of-2 at the line, as did Williams on the other end after Sullivan was put into the double bonus with 4:50 to play.

Avery Wiltermood and Perkinson scored the next two baskets as Sullivan cut the lead to three but on the following possession, Delainey Shorter fouled out with Egold hitting 1-of-2 at the line to make it a 42-38 game.

Gracie Shorter hit two free throws with 3:04 to play, the game having a brisk tempo as the Golden Arrows gambled for steals, getting several, while the Eagles struggled to take advantage of openings to score at the rim.

“We weren’t as sure as we normally are with the ball during that stretch,” Gardner said about the closing minutes. “Some of it was frustrations from the night.

“It was a scenario where a missed shot here led to hesitation, which allowed (Sullivan) to get caught back up. At the end of the day, you have to do the little things and while we gave up the three, we still had good looks at the end like we had all night.”

Shorter missed a layup off a Wiltermood steal while Egold missed two free throws on the other end.

Wiltermood snagged a steal but missed a three yet Egold missed a layup on the outlet, only for Shorter to get caught from behind and a jump ball went to the Eagles.

Sullivan pinned the ball into the corner to force a jump ball the other direction and it was from there that Williams pulled up near the top of the key to bury a lead-changing three with 40 seconds to play.

Williams then blocked a Custis drive but the ball remained with South Putnam.

Custis went in again and missed with Miller grabbing the rebound and putting up a shot short that Bumgardner snagged.

Another short shot was eventually grabbed by Miller, whose short jumper finally went in and gave the hosts a 44-43 lead.

Gracie Shorter attempted a drive but the entire Eagle defense was anticipating it and the shot was well short of the basket.

Vittetow was fouled on the ensuing inbounds but despite missing both free throws there was no time left for the Golden Arrows to get a shot away as the visitors lost their fourth-straight game and became the last team in the WIC to take a conference loss.

South Putnam returns to action next Tuesday at Parke Heritage.

Scoring

Sullivan (43; 14-2FG; 1-3FG; 12-20 FT) — G. Shorter 16, Williams 13, B. Perkinson 5, D. Shorter 5, K. Perkinson 2, Wiltermood 2

South Putnam (44; 12-2FG; 2-3FG; 12-22 FT) — Egold 11, Mahoney-Sutherland 8, Miller 7, Bumgardner 6, Custis 5, Vittetow 4, Teipen 2, Burdge 1