Cougars hang tough, but fall 63-59 to balanced Northview

Ashley Weir of North Putnam reaches out to grab a loose ball against Northview on Friday night.

Brazil Times/AUSTEN LEAKE

BRAZIL — Zack Keyes knew his Northview Knights were in for a battle against North Putnam on Friday night, and they were.

The home team was able to hold off a late charge by the visiting Cougars and escape with a 63-59 Western Indiana Conference victory.

“I thought they played really well tonight,” Keyes said of the Cougars. “They knocked down shots, and their dribble drive and kick offense has given us problems the past two years. We were just able to score enough tonight.”

Northview led 15-14 at the first stop and 34-31 at halftime.

The Knights opened up a little breathing room in the third period as freshman Brynlee Clarke hit back-to-back treys following a Sydney Maurer basket for a 44-33 lead.

North Putnam whittled away and cut the deficit to 48-41 at the final stop.

A Maurer basket with 4:58 left in the game returned Northview’s lead to a comfortable 56-47 margin, but the Cougars then went on a roll. A Kyla Willis basket followed by two Samie Hoops free throws started the run. After Northview’s Hanna Dawson hit 3 of 4 at the line, Willis sank two straight treys and the deficit was just 59-57 with 1:25 to go.

Audri Spencer and Willis each hit a pair of free throws in the final 30 seconds to keep the margin at two, but the Knights made a turnover and gave the Cougars life.

North Putnam missed a pair of free throws with 14.6 seconds left, and Spencer sank a pair with 10.9 seconds left to ice the 10th win of the year for Northview against two losses.

North Putnam suffered its fifth straight loss and fell to 8-6.

Willis led all scorers with 25 points for the Cougars, while Marin Davies added 10.

Macey Timberman paced a balanced attack for the Knights with 16, while Dawson had 15, Maurer had 13 and Spencer added 11.

North Putnam coach Lukas Haworth thought his team played hard from start to finish, as always.

“That’s what we do,” he said. “What that scoreboard has said over the past month or two, we have absolutely played with great effort and intensity every possession. I’m really proud of our girls.”

Willis hit five 2-point baskets, three treys and added 6 of 6 at the line. Sixteen of those points came in the final period.

“She has earned the right to take those shots,” Haworth said. “The reason they trust is that they know they are not only helping us to try to win but that she may also help them out.

“The fact that we made every right play to put ourselves in a position to win this game says a lot about this team.”

The Cougars lost on Saturday night to Indian Creek, and now have a long break until they resume action at North Montgomery on Jan. 4.

NORTH PUTNAM (59) — Hoops 0 2-2 2, Davies 3 2-3 10, Weir 2 0-0 5, Wolf 2 0-0 6, Brewer 1 0-0 2, Willis 8 6-6 25, Gross 2 1-4 6. Totals 19 FT, 12-17 FT, 59 TP

NORTHVIEW (63) — Timberman 6 4-6 16, Pearce 0 0-0 0, Clarke2 2-2 8, Eldridge 0 0-0 0, Spencer 2 6-8 11, Maurer 5 2-2 13, Dawson 6 3-7 15. Totals 21 FG, 17-25 FT, 63 TP

3-point goals — Davies 2, Weir 1, Wolf 2, Willis 3, Gross 1, Clarke 2, Spencer 1, Maurer 1.