North Putnam starts season with tough road win at South Putnam

Believing he had clearance, South Putnam's Drew Hill would soon be surprised by a block from North Putnam's Jaylen Windmiller during Friday night's season opener for the Cougars. The visitors used a 15-1 run between the third and fourth quarter to negate Hill's game-high 17 points in a 60-50 win over the Eagles.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

Having to wait an extra 10 days to begin its boys’ basketball season, North Putnam traveled to South Putnam to face a home side that was still licking its wounds after a 30-point loss in its season opener to Clay City.

The Cougars hit their first three triples of the night for an early lead but the Eagles steadied the ship, didn’t allow the advantage to blossom and turned the game into a see-saw affair until a 15-1 run from the third into the fourth quarter helped the visitors to a 60-50 win.

“It was the first game for us, so we were sloppy and definitely need to be a little cleaner but South Putnam’s tough,” North Putnam head coach Vince Brooks said. “They played hard and played really well, scoring on some actions that were really good and we didn’t defend them well.

“It was a tough game but sometimes you have to get out with a win no matter how ugly it was.”

“We made a pretty good jump,” South Putnam head coach Josh Estridge said about the improvements from the Clay City game. “We had good effort in our first game and had great effort tonight but at some point, that effort has to turn into wins.

“We had some success tonight. We had more guys involved offensively and our defense was pretty good, contesting threes. We worked on (North Putnam’s) pressure and it didn’t affect us much, so I was happy to see some of things we worked on in practice carry over into the game.

“Now, we just need a little more consistency on both ends, which will come with more practice, more trust and we’ll figure out how to finish these games,” Estridge added.

After a pair of Drew Hill baskets, North Putnam fired in its first three shots from distance through Brady Barber, Jaden Windmiller and Kaden Helderman for an 11-4 lead.

Having been on the wrong end of several three-point barrages in recent seasons, South Putnam buckled down, getting a basket from Khalil Jefferson and a Parker Harris three-point play to trim the gap to 11-9.

Brogan Woodall and Nolan Hackleman scored to expand the lead to six with Jefferson added a late jumper to finish the quarter with the Cougars leading 15-11.

The pendulum quickly to start the second quarter as Hill hit a three, followed by two more from Cam Bozell, to flip the scoreboard as the hosts led 20-15.

Windmiller hit a three to break the run and Woodall added two of his own, the second off a steal, to put North Putnam back up 24-22.

Hill tied the game with a drive and Bozell hit his third three of the night to make it 29-26 but North Putnam finished the half with a 7-2 run, including a third three by Woodall, to take a 33-31 lead into halftime.

“Brogan played exceptional,” Brooks said about the senior. “To have not played any high school basketball, showing up on game one of his senior year and both knocking down shots and playing defense the way he did, I was super proud of him and we’re really glad to have him.”

Hill started the second half with a three and hit a second that would give the hosts their final lead of the night at 39-38, one answered by Woodall moments later.

Jefferson tied the game at 41-41 with a putback and added a free throw following a basket from Isaac Pickle to make it 43-42 before North Putnam went on the game-deciding run.

Pickel, who became a focal point of the Cougar offense in the third quarter, scored inside again before Barber added a drive and two free throws to give the visitors a 49-42 lead with eight minutes to play.

“Isaac did a great job inside,” Books said about the sophomore post player. “He definitely proved himself when we got the ball inside and finished well.

“It was a great game of growth for him.”

North Putnam went to its slower tempo offense to start the fourth quarter and, despite two Wyatt Mullin free throws early, systematically pulled South Putnam out of shape, getting baskets from Matt Farrington, Windmiller and Pickel and a three from Hackleman to turn the five-point lead into a 14-point gap with 90 seconds to play.

The Eagles spiced up the final moments with a press that netted them six quick points but the Cougars eventually worked things out and finished off the night with a 10-point win.

“Maybe the pressure is something we apply sooner,” Estridge said about the brief late surge. “I was impressed with the guys that went in and did some things we don’t do a whole lot with the full-court pressure.

“The bottom line, though, is we can’t go cold like we did in the third and fourth quarter to put ourselves in that spot. We’ll look at the film to find ways to combat that and not allow ourselves to be in that position in the first place.”

Brooks said the close gave the team food for thought going forward.

“We didn’t handle the pressure at the end and had a few silly turnovers,” Brooks noted about the final seconds. “It wasn’t just our mistakes; South Putnam created those turnovers and I give credit to them for that.

“We didn’t demonstrate the composure I want to see from a team with so many seniors. It’s something we’ll watch the film and learn from the mistakes as these guys are very mature.”

Brogan Woodall led the three Cougars in double figures with 14 points while Pickel and Helderman had 10 points each.

Hill led all scorers with 17 points while Jefferson and Bozell chipped in nine points.

Scoring

North Putnam (12-24 2FG: 10-26 3FG; 6-11 FT) — Bro. Woodall 14, Pickel 10, Helderman 10, Hackleman 9, Windmiller 8, Barber 7, Farrington 2

South Putnam (13-31 2FG; 6-13 3FG; 6-8 FT) — Hill 17, Jefferson 9, Bozell 9, Mullin 8, Witt 4, Harris 3

Statistics