GREENCASTLE BOYS' BASKETBALL SECTIONAL FINAL: Wolves deny Cougars' title hopes again

Parke Heritage defeated North Putnam in the final of IHSAA Boys' Basketball Class 2A Sectional No. 44 for a fourth time in five years as the No. 16 Wolves defeated the Cougars 49-34 in Saturday night's final at McAnally Center.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

The conundrum of how to deal with Parke Heritage in the postseason goes on for North Putnam.

For the fourth time in five seasons, the Cougars reached the final of IHSAA Boys’ Basketball Class 2A Sectional No. 44 opposite the No. 16 Wolves.

And as with the other meetings, North Putnam couldn’t solve how to take down Parke Heritage as the Wolves held the Cougars to single-digit scores in the first three quarters on the way to a 49-34 win at McAnally Center Saturday night.

Parke Heritage’s swarming man-to-man defense limited North Putnam to four shots and three free throws in the opening quarter.

On the other end, the Wolves started the game with a Max Down jumper and climbed out to a 10-1 lead after baskets from Renn Harper, Treigh Schelsky and Carter Crum.

Kaden Helderman scored at the end of the opening period to make it 10-3 while Isaac Pickel started the second quarter with a basket that made it 10-5.

Dowd hit a three that kickstarted a 12-1 run as Scheslky scored twice, Harper hit a three and BT Luce scored to make it 22-6.

Nolan Augusta hit a three to break the run but Luce and Harper added baskets before Brady Barber got the Cougars into double digits with a late steal as the Wolves led 26-11 at halftime.

North Putnam's Nolan Augusta (23) tries to find a lane to drive in to during Saturday night's sectional final against Parke Heritage. Augusta was the second-leading scorer for the Cougars with six points in the 49-34 loss to the Wolves.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

Parke Heritage pushed the lead to 19 after Harper scored to open the second half and Dowd scored on a putback to make it 30-11.

Augusta hit his second three of the night but Harper and Down scored again to make it 34-14.

A trade of baskets from Jaylen Windmiller and Harper kept the lead at 20 until a late three from Nolan Hackleman made it 34-17 entering the final eight minutes of play.

Hackleman and Matt Farrington started the fourth quarter with three-point plays that brought the lead down to 11 at 40-29 but the lead would never slip into single digits.

The Wolves iced the contest with a 7-0 run, five points coming from the free throw line, to push the lead back up to 18 and the celebration was soon on as Parke Heritage advanced to the Martinsville Regional to take on Northeastern.

North Putnam finishes it season 16-10, regaining the Putnam County Bucket after winning the Putnam County Classic for a fourth year in a row.

Scoring

North Putnam (10-21 2FG; 3-17 3FG; 5-9 FT) — Hackleman 13, Augusta 6, Farrington 5, Pickel 4, Helderman 2, Barber 2, Windmiller 2

Parke Heritage (16-31 2FG; 2-10 3FG; 11-15 FT) — Harper 15, Schelsky 11, Luce 10, Dowd 9, Crum 3

Statistics