GREENCASTLE GIRLS' BASKETBALL SECTIONAL: Simpson, Ramsay gobble up Eagles

In a contest of scoring duos, South Putnam's Danae Cline (shooting) and Chlara Pistelli combined for 29 points, though they only matches one of Parke Heritage's Emma Simpson and Raegan Ramsay as the pair scored 29 points each to lead the Wolves to a 68-46 win over the Eagles, advancing to the sectional final against Greencastle on Saturday.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

The South Putnam Lady Eagles’ season ended on Friday night in the Class 2A Sectional No. 44 semifinal as they could not keep Parke Heritage off the boards and struggled to keep the athletic Wolves squad from getting to the basket as they fell 68-46 at McAnally Center.

Parke Heritage outrebounded the Eagles 37-27 on the night and got up 17 more field goal attempts. The Wolves consistently got second opportunities and when they did either Emma Simpson or Raegan Ramsay converted as the two Wolves each had 29 points on the night.

The loss to Parke Heritage for the second in year in a row in the sectionals dropped South Putnam’s record to 8-16, while the Wolves improved to 20-5 and will take on the Greencastle Tiger Cubs in the championship game on Saturday.

“It (rebounding) was the number one key coming into the game. We wanted to keep them off the offensive boards, but time and time again they got position on the weak side and they took advantage of it,” South Putnam head coach Brian Gardner said.

Parke Heritage came out in a full-court press, but the Eagles solved the press early and found Madison Gardner for three early buckets as the Eagles trailed just 7-6 before the Wolves closed the half with eight-straight points and a 15-6 lead after one period.

“We got some good early looks, but some of them didn’t go in. We didn’t get to the line early and that kind of set the tone,” Gardner said.

Cate O’Brien hit a three-pointer for the Wolves to start the second quarter and a Ramsay layup forced South to call a timeout just one minute into the second period. The Eagles responded by scoring seven-straight points as Danae Cline had four points and Chlara Pistelli nailed a trey.

The run was short-lived as Parke Heritage scored the next 11 points, repeatedly getting to the rim and either converting or going to the free throw line. When the dust settled, the Wolves had a 33-18 halftime lead.

“You have to give them (Parke Heritage) a lot of credit. They were really good tonight,” Gardner said.

The Eagles were able to find some offense in the third quarter, but Parke Heritage’s athleticism countered the Eagle shooting. South would get solid offensive quarters from Cline and Pistelli as they put up 17 points in the period, but the Wolves countered with 18 points, all by either Simpson or Ramsay.

South Putnam would cut the lead to 13 points several times, but the Wolves would go on a late 9-0 run to go up by 20 points before Pistelli and Cline closed the quarter with buckets as the Eagles trailed 51-35 heading into the fourth quarter.

“They do a pretty good job of getting into you defensively. I thought they did a good job of closing out on our shooters, but I thought we handled it pretty well at times, but just couldn’t get enough shots to go in,” Gardner said.

Parke Heritage kept the pressure up and the Eagles never closed within 15 points in the final quarter. Cline and Pistelli continued to put some points on the board, but the Wolves countered that consistently and slowly stretched the lead to the final margin of 22 points with the 68-46 victory.

Simpson led the way with 29 points and 14 rebounds for the Wolves. Ramsay matched her point total with 29 of her own. Pistelli had 15 for the Eagles and Cline had 14.

“That group of girls (South Putnam), I wouldn’t trade them for anyone. Kelsey (Custis) didn’t finish her career the way she wanted, but she has done anything asked of her all four years she has played. Emmy Jeter came in this year and was great. They taught the others well. Maddie Newby (manager) never gets talked about enough for what she has done. We will miss them, but they leave us in good position,” Gardner said of his seniors.

SOUTH PUTNAM (46) –Custis 2-5 0-0 4, Cline 3-9 8-8 14, Pistelli 4-10 6-9 15, Pilcher 0-5 0-1 0, Gardner 4-7 0-0 8, Dooley 0-0 0-0 0, Emmerich 2-6 0-0 5, Jeter 0-0 0-0 0, Wallace 0-0 0-0 0, Phillips 0-0 0-0 0, Holderfield 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-42 FG, 14-18 FT, 46 TP.

PARKE HERITAGE (68) – O’Brien 2-4 0-0 5, Jenkins 0-1 0-0 0, Simpson 12-24 3-7 29, Ramsay 11-21 6-7 29, Benjamin 1-1 0-0 2, Perkins 0-7 3-4 3, Batty 0-0 0-0 0, McCormick 0-0 0-0 0, Hartman 0-1 0-0 0, Patton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-59 FG, 12-18 FT, 68 TP.

3-point shooting – SP 2-15 (Custis 0-3, Cline 0-3, Pistelli 1-3, Pilcher 0-3, Emmerich 1-3), PH 4-14 (Simpson 2-5, Jenkins 0-1, O’Brien 1-3, Perkins 0-4, Ramsay 1-1). Rebounds – SP 27 (Custis 2, Cline 5, Pistelli 4, Pilcher 4, Gardner 3, Emmerich 6, Dooley 1) PH – 37 (Simpson 14, Jenkins 1, O’Brien 3, Perkins 6, Ramsay 5, Benjamin 2, McCormick 1) FG Pct. – SP 35.7, PH 44.1. FT Pct. – SP 77.8, PH 66.7. Turnovers – SP 19, PH 14.