Tiger Cubs smother Cougars again

North Putnam's offense often found itself running into dead ends during Friday night's county matchup at Greencastle as Tiger Cubs Emma Hunter (3) and Stephane Morales force Cougar guard Jacy Huffman into a tight spot during the 46-14 win for the hosts.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

The first meeting between Greencastle and North Putnam was effectively over by halftime at the Putnam County Girls’ Basketball Tournament.

While not as bad in the second meeting, the Tiger Cubs had the Cougars down and out not much later Friday night, holding the visitors to nine points through three quarters in a 46-14 win.

Already down one starter in Rose Haste for the game, North Putnam (9-9, 2-6 WIC) was soon down a second when Samie Hoops landed awkwardly trying to prevent a layup two minutes in and would not return to the game.

Lexi Daigle opened the scoring with a jumper, the only points for the Cougars in the quarter, though Greencastle (16-4, 8-2) struggled to find points, getting two Emma Hunter free throws, a Gloria Brewer jumper and Evie Briones three as part of a 7-2 first quarter.

The Cougar offense often found itself running into Tiger Cub cul-de-sacs, losing the ball 19 times in the first half, with Daigle taking the first four shots for the visitors and it being nearly 10 minutes before a different North Putnam player hoisted up an effort.

Melanie Davies was able to knock down two free throws and Daigle hit again from Close range to make it 14-6 before a 10-0 close made life comfortable for Greencastle.

Hunter, Brewer and Briones had repeated their first-quarter scoring up to that point with Brewer starting and finishing the close with a jumper and three-point play while Briones hit another three and Ali Dobbs scored on a steal as Greencastle led 24-6 at the break.

The hosts extended the lead to 38-9 after three quarters by holding North Putnam without a field goal in the third quarter as Kyndal Brewer hit three free throws in the frame.

Hunter scored five points to bookend the quarter while Brewer added three baskets and Stephanie Morales scored three points in the frame.

Both sides tailed off in the final quarter with Hunter and Zoey Doan adding threes while Bailey Brown scored a putback for Greencastle while Kassidy Hackleman notched two free throws and Hailee Daigle hit a three for North Putnam over the final eight minutes.

Scoring

North Putnam (2-16 2FG; 1-8 3FG; 7-15 FT) — L. Daigle 4, H. Daigle 3, Brewer 3, Davies 2, Hackleman 2

Greencastle (13-27 2FG; 5-24 3FG; 5-7 FT) — Brewer 15, Hunter 12, Briones 9, Morales 3, Doan 3, Dobbs 2, Brown 2

Statistics