North Putnam controls tempo, Southmont for first win

BAINBRIDGE – The young North Putnam boys’ basketball team opened its season at home against the team that knocked it out of the state tournament, Southmont, last year.

The Cougars used a strong defensive effort and some clutch play in the fourth quarter to achieve a 46-36 victory over the Mounties.

North Putnam limited the Mounties to just 36 points, 14 in the second half. Southmont hit just 33 percent (14-of-42) shots from the floor and did not help themselves by hitting just 6-of-13 from the free throw line.

The hosts knocked down free throws late in the game to seal the win. The victory gives the Cougars a 1-0 record, while Southmont was playing its opener as well and dropped to 0-1.

“I was really proud of these guys. We only have two players who had much playing time last year and we did a really good job and played extremely hard,” North Putnam head coach Vince Brooks said.

North came out offensive minded. The Cougars hit 7-of-11 shots in the first period as six of the seven players who saw time on the floor picked up a basket or more. Brayden Monnett led the way with five points. North ended the quarter on a 9-2 run as it pushed the pace and got everyone involved for a 16-9 lead heading into the second period.

The Cougars would continue to stretch the lead. North would start the period on a 9-4 run with Nolan Hackleman scoring the first five points of the quarter and finishing with seven in the period.

North established itself as it repeatedly pushed the ball and got open looks in its offense. The Mounties started to hit shots, but the Cougar defense forced six turnovers and limited the chances that Southmont would have to convert buckets. This allowed North to take a 31-22 halftime lead.

“We did a nice job of scoring points early in the game and pushing the pace where we wanted it. Then in the second half, we were able to play situational basketball,” Brooks said.

North slowed its pace but ratcheted up the defense in the third period as the two teams only scored 15 points total in the quarter.

The Mounties would cut the lead to 33-29 on a Vince Reimondo layup with 3:38 left in the quarter but would get no closer as Brady Barber scored four quick points and Monnett added a layup to boost the lead back to a comfortable 39-29 lead heading into the final stanza.

The situational basketball Brooks referred to was that the Cougars slowed the pace and forced the Mounties to send them to the free throw line.

North took advantage of that by scoring seven points in the quarter, all from the free throw line. North Putnam only attempted four field goals in the period and maintained a lead of least eight points throughout the rest of the game.

“We wanted to make them put us at the foul line; we did a great job of handling the pressure,” Brooks said.

Southmont’s Carson Chadd led all scorers with 14 points but had only two in the second half. Hackleman led the Cougars with 11 and all players scored at least two points.

North’s defense was the star of the game as they repeatedly denied the Mounties good shots and forced 19 Southmont turnovers.

“We were dialed in defensively. This group of kids may be the best group defensively early in the season that I have had since I have been here,” Brooks said of his team.

The Cougars will rest for the next 10 days and then start the Western Indiana Conference play against South Putnam on Dec. 2.

Southmont (36) – Chadd 7-11 0-4 14, Ward 1-10 0-0 2, Hess 1-4 0-0 2, Cornelius 1-4 2-2 5, Brewer 2-4 2-5 6, Reimondo 2-8 2-2 7, Oppy 0-0 0-0 0, McCandless 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-42 FG, 6-13 FT, 36 TP.

NORTH PUTNAM (46) – Windmiller 1-5 0-0 3, Hackleman 5-7 1-2 11, Barber3-5 3-5 9, Farrington 2-4 0-0 4, Monnett 3-11 2-5 9, Helderman 1-4 6-6 8, Pickel 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 16-39 FG, 12-18 FT, 46 TP.

3-point shooting – SHS 2-18 (Chadd 0-1, Ward 0-5, Hess 0-2, Cornelius 1-3, Reimondo 1-7), NP 2-16 (Windmiller 1-3, Hackleman 0-1, Barber 0-2, Farrington 0-1, Monnett 1-7, Helderman 0-1, Pickel 0-1) Rebounds – SHS 31 (Chadd 8, Ward 6, Hess 2, Cornelius 4, Brewer 4, McCandless 4) NP – 27 (Windmiller 6, Hackleman 2, Barber 4, Farrington 5, Monnett 2, Helderman 2, Pickel 3) FG Pct. – SHS 33.3, NP 41.0. FT Pct. – SHS 46.2, NP 66.7. Turnovers – SHS 19, NP 14.