ROACHDALE — Future Monon Athletic Conference foes converged at North Putnam on Tuesday for a double dip of hoops as the Southmont Mounties made the quick trip South to take on the Cougars.
While the girls’ teams are beginning to slowly get into their slate of games, it was the season opener for both boys’ teams.
Both schools walked away from the night each picking up a win. In the girls game it was the Cougars used a 12-0 start in the final quarter to pull away from the Mounties for a 61-44 win.
The Mounties won the boys’ game with a dominant 79-48 win to begin their season 1-0.
Fourth quarter dooms Mounties
Through three quarters, the game between the Cougars and Mountie girls was entertaining. Trailing nearly the entire game, Southmont continued to chip away at the Cougar lead and for a brief moment got a one-point advantage at 39-38 thanks to a pair of free-throws from Layla Gomez.
North Putnam then scored five straight and held a narrow 42-40 lead.
Then the Cougars found their rhythm and went on a 12-0 run to take a 54-40 lead and never looked back.
Southmont (3-5) got their first points of the quarter at the 4:05 mark but North Putnam out-scored Southmont 19-4 in the final eight minutes to cruise to the win.
“The whole key to the game was rebounding, which we didn’t do a great job of from start to finish,” Southmont coach Dan Burkman said. “They killed us on the glass and had so many offensive rebounds and put-backs. We just couldn’t box anyone out.”
To Burkman’s point the rebounding discrepancy was huge. North Putnam (6-2) had as many offensive rebounds (22) as the Mounties had total rebounds. The host Cougars ended with 35 total boards on the night.
Tuesday’s game was their fourth game in five days. Burkman noted how playing that grueling slate has taken a slight toll on his team.
“Our schedule would challenge an NBA team,” he said. “I’m sure the girls are tired and there’s some effect of that out there, but we can’t be using that as an excuse.”
Southmont (3-5) was led in scoring by freshman Ella Barry who continues to shine in her first varsity season. Barry ended with a game-high 18 points on 7-13 from the floor. Gomez ended the game with 11 points and eight rebounds with both Molly Williams and Claire Kessler adding in six. Freshman Kaylee Turner chipped in two with Emily Link rounding out the scoring with one.
For the game the Mounties did shoot the ball well going 16-32 (50%) from the field. Barry made both of their three-pointers as they went 2-7 (28.6%) from deep. It was an efficient night at the charity stripe with South going 10-14 (71%), but to go along with their 22 rebounds, the Mounties did turn the ball over 22 times.
“People forget that we’re a team of freshman and sophomores so there’s going to be some growing pains throughout,” Burkman concluded. “Ella isn’t playing like a freshman and she relishes having that pressure on her. Layla’s been very consistent in her own right too. We just have to get the other girls around them to play like I know they can.”
The Mounties will host 10th-ranked Parke Heritage on Dec. 3.
Mounties begin season with win
Returning a core group of veteran players for Michael Byrum’s second season at helm of Southmont basketball showed its hand in the season-opener. From the opening tip, South controlled the game and wasted no time in making the game a run-away.
Leading 20-7 after the opening quarter, the veteran-led Mounties took advantage over the host Cougars who have a a young squad this season.
Senior Aaron McMasters scored nine first-quarter points, then added nine more in the second to go into halftime with 18 points which included five made threes.
Southmont (1-0) had am efficient offense the entire night..The Mounties shot exactly 50% going 30-60 from the field and was 14-30 (47%) from three.
“We did a pretty good job of finding who was open and then our guys did a great job of just knocking down those open shots,” Byrum said. “That’s one about this group is that we have a lot of versatility and can play a lot of different styles on both sides of the ball.”
Along with McMasters scoring a team-high 18, the Mounties placed four others in double-figures. Senior Vince Reimondo scored 14 and knocked down four threes, Evan Watson added 13 while both Lucas Oppy and Dean McGaughey scored 10.
South out-rebounded the Cougars 43-22 including 16 offensive rebounds.
“We have five ofour six guys on our roster that it wouldn’t surprise me if they went out there and got 20,” Byrum said about his teams depth.
North Putnam (0-1) was led in scoring by senior Nolan Augusta’s 21 points and senior Kaden Helderman scored 10. Augusta drilled six threes as the Cougars shot 9-30 (30%) from deep and 17-46 (37%) from the field.
Byrum did add that with a veteran-led team, how the beginning of this season has been an easier one as compared to his first year last year.
“Having experience always makes things easier,” he said. “These guys however are also playing some new roles and that’s something we’re still trying to figure out. We still have some things to clean up but this is a good start to the season.”
Southmont will have their home opener on Saturday when they host Sheridan.
