Cougars sink Panthers late at the line

BAINBRIDGE – Some people think that the only certainties in life are death and taxes.

It is getting closer to have a third one in that North Putnam’s basketball team will spread the floor and turn a close game into a win late in the fourth quarter. The Cougars did that against Riverton Parke on Saturday night, picking up a 55-45 victory over the Panthers.

The Cougars held a one-point lead after three quarters and hit 10-of-13 free throws in the final period to extend the lead to the final margin and improve to 13-9 on the season, while the Panthers dropped to 8-13.

“Our guys just play well down the stretch. We are just a strong fourth quarter team. The guys just make good decisions and have poise late in the game,” North Putnam head coach Vince Brooks said.

In addition to the foul line, the Cougars had a decided advantage on the boards with a 38-22 advantage. That was needed as the two teams both hit 18 field goals and five three-pointers, but the Cougars doing the little things and getting to the line was a key.

“I thought we got to most of the fifty-fifty balls. Our kids are just tough and they showed that tonight,” Brooks said.

The Panthers were the aggressors early as they scored the final five points of the first quarter while the Cougars couldn’t get a bucket in the last three minutes of the opening period. The Panthers led 12-7 after one quarter of play.

After spotting the Panthers a three-point play to open the second quarter, the Cougars went on a 10-0 run to take a 17-15 lead on a Brady Barber three-pointer and, after trading some baskets, outscored the Panthers 9-3 to end the first half

Brayden Monnett hit two key buckets and Barber had nine of his game-high 18 points in the period as the Cougars went to the locker room with a 26-21 lead.

“What can you say about Brayden (Monnett)? As a senior he has done all we have asked. He has the ball in his hands a lot and his poise and control have been so good,” Brooks said.

Both teams battled in the third quarter as the Panthers cut into the Cougar lead. Riverton Parke would tie the score twice in the quarter before a Matt Farrington trey gave North a five-point lead.

Darron Hazzard of the Panthers would score four late points and cut the lead to 36-35 at the end of three quarters.

Riverton Parke would tie the score again at 37-37, but North would spread the floor as its modus operandi and began to stretch the lead at the foul line.

After a Kaden Helderman three-pointer, the Cougars led 41-37 and the parade to foul line began. North’s ball handling and balance forced the Panthers into fouling situations and the Cougars knocked down 10-of-13 from the charity stripe in the stanza.

Despite a pair of three-pointers by Riverton Parke’s Ashton Hines that cut the Cougar lead to just three late in the game, North still pulled away for the 55-45 victory.

“We made a drop adjustment defensively late in the game that allowed the Hines kid to hit a couple of shots, but other than that we closed the game like we are capable of and were stellar defensively,” Brooks said.

Riverton Parke was led by Hazzard with 17 points, while the Cougars’ Barber had a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds and Helderman added 10 points.

“His (Barber) rebounding has been great. He has done just a great job,” Brooks said.

The Cougars will play their final regular season game next Tuesday at North Montgomery as they prepare for tournament play.

RIVERTON PARKE (45) – Mullins 2-7 0-2 4, Robins 3-8 1-2 8, Todd 3-5 0-0 6, Hazzard 6-16 3-3 17, Hines 3-5 0-0 8, Hopton 1-4 0-0 2, Barton 0-1 0-0 0, MacDonald 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-46 FG, 4-7 FT, 45 TP.

NORTH PUTNAM (64) – Windmiller 2-4 2-3 6, Hackleman 3-8 2-5 9, Barber 8-13 1-2 18, Monnett 2-7 2-2 6, Farrington 1-3 1-4 4, Pickel 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 18-44 FG, 14-22 FT, 55 TP.

3-point shooting – RP 5-20 (Mullins 0-3, Robins 1-3, Hazzard 2-8, Hines 2-3, Hopton 0-2, Barton 0-1), NP 5-22 (Hackleman 1-5, Barber 1-2, Helderman 2-9, Monnett 0-3, Farrington 1-3) Rebounds – RP 22 (Mullins 3, Robins 2, Todd 3, Hazzard 5, Hines 2, Hopton 3) NP – 38 (Windmiller 4, Hackleman 2, Barber 12, Helderman 3, Monnett 3, Farrington 5, Pickel 6) FG Pct. – RP 39.1, NP 40.9. FT Pct. – RP 57.1, NP 63.6. Turnovers – RP 10, NP 15.