North Putnam returns from hiatus, knocks back North Montgomery

North Putnam's Samie Hoops helped create separation from North Montgomery Tuesday night by scoring nine points in the second quarter, including back-to-back threes, as the Cougars returned from a 17-day break to pick up a 42-32 win over the Chargers.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

BAINBRIDGE – With roughly two weeks between competitive outings, both North Putnam and North Montgomery started the final month of the girls’ basketball season Tuesday night with a game that took time to get up and running.

The Cougars got nine points from Samie Hoops in the second quarter to help build an eight-point lead at halftime and though the Chargers got as close as five, the hosts steadied themselves for a 42-32 win.

“During the break, we didn’t have any games or tournaments, so we went back to work on a few things that were deficiencies for us,” North Putnam head coach Craig Franklin said. “I saw those things look better tonight.

“The offense and the defense needed some cleaning up but that showed the rust we had. Overall, I saw a lot of positives tonight that will help us in the long run.”

Both offenses needed time to warm up as Rose Haste got the scoring going for North Putnam (9-7) with two free throws, followed by a Hoops three and free throw for a 6-0 lead.

Lexi Daigle added a three to make it 9-0 before North Montgomery (3-14) got a late three from Madison Banta to make it 9-3 after a quarter of play.

After Addi Osburn hit two free throws, Hoops scored off a steal to make it 13-4 before the Chargers scored seven of the next nine points as Krestyn Bradford hit a three, Macee Norman banked in an arcing hook shot and Piper Ramey hit two free throws.

Hoops pushed the lead back out to 10 after hitting back-to-back threes while Ramey scored towards the end of the half to make it 22-14 at the intermission.

Daigle hit a free throw and three to open the second half, pushing the lead to its largest of the night at 26-14 before Banta scored the next five points.

Daigle added two more free throws and Osburn added two baskets but Ramey and Norman scored four points each to cut the gap down to five at 32-27.

A three-point play from Haste at the end of the period made it 35-27 with eight minutes left to play.

While North Montgomery kept the lead from getting back to double digits for much of the fourth quarter, the visitors could not get shots to fall, only scoring five points in the final quarter, allowing North Putnam to maintain defensive pressure and see out its first win in over a month.

“To be able to work on the things we needed to and pick up a win was perfect for us, especially after a skid of some lopsided games,” Franklin said as the team a five-game losing streak. “The kids needed to get back in the win column and they did that tonight.”

Scoring

North Montgomery (7-26 2FG; 3-14 3FG; 9-13 FT) — Ramey 11, Banta 9, Norman 8, Bradford 3, Nichols 1

North Putnam (6-18 2FG; 5-21 3FG; 15-24 FT) — Hoops 13, L. Daigle 12, Haste 7, Osburn 6, Davies 3, Huffman 1

Statistics