Putnam County comes to Macon to open Basketball

The 2017-2018 Basketball season went underway last Friday evening at Macon High School. To open this year the Putnam County Midgets made the trip south to Macon to face the Tigers. The Tigerettes were on the court first for Macon with high expectations coming into the new season. Last year the Tigerettes finished with a 15-9 record and this year we can only expect better things from the ladies. Lauren Chambers started out the scoring with a bang dropping in a 3-pointer from the right corner of the key. Bailey Cox then went on a 5 point run of her own to push the lead to 8-0. The Lady Midgets were forced to take a timeout to catch their breath. After the timeout, Megan Cashatt launched 2 more bombs from beyond the arch to put Macon up 14-0. Jillian King would add a little spice with a jumper to force another Midget timeout with 3:26 to go in the period. It would not help to stop the Tigerette steamroller. Cox dropped in a jumper, Cashatt picked up an assist on a layup by Chambers to lead 20-0. The 1st period ended fittingly with a basket and one by Paige Hawkins to lead 23-0. The 2nd frame started with a free-throw and a jumper by Tashawnda Douglas for Macon. Cashatt kept up the fireworks with another 3-pointer to extend the trashing to 29-0. Cox would get back into the action with a layup as the Lady Midgets had no answer for Bailey in the paint. The Tigerettes were bigger, faster and more athletic than Putnam County. It was like a cat toying with a mouse. A nice assist by Chambers on a layup by Hawkins continued the woes for the Midgets. Putnam County would finally put a mark on the scoreboard with 3 free-throws sandwiching a layup by Douglas to end the half. At halftime the Tigerettes dominated the scoreboard 35-3. Bailey Cox came out of the locker-room making a statement. She put in 4 straight lay-ups and stuffed an attempt by Putnam County. Chambers would add an old fashion 3 point play to extend the lead to 46-3. King would add another jewel to the crown with another 3-pointer for Macon. The Lady Midgets would drop in a pair of freebies to which Douglas and Alex Wyatt put in back to back buckets. Putnam County would score the last 4 points of the third quarter to end with a score of 53-9. The Lady Midgets dropped in a three in protest to open the final frame. Hawkins and Chambers would answer with layups for Macon. Another 3 by Putnam County was followed by a 3 from the Tigerettes and a layup by King. Putnam County added 4 more points but the Tigerettes would conclude the scoring with another 3 by Katie Richardson and two free-throws to end the beat down to a score of 67-19.

The Tiger had a tough act to follow against the Midgets. The Tigers ended last season with an overall record of 1-19 and this year welcomed new Head Coach Dale Davenport as he looks to right the ship again for the Tigers. Jamison Hogsett would be the first to grab the rudder for the Tigers. Hogsett dropped in the first 2 points with back to back lay-ups to lead 4-0. After the Midgets scored, Jamison continued his hit parade with the next 6 points of the game to lead 10-2. The Midgets would end the bleeding with a 3-pointer but Hogsett kept clawing away with another bucket. Ke’Shaun Tillman added 2 more with a layup to lead 12-7. Hogsett would block the next attempt by the Midgets but Putnam County would score the next 4 points of the period to trail by one 12-11. Putnam County would take their first lead of the game to open the 2nd period with a layup. Max Schroeder would take it right back with a 3-pointer. Hogsett would then extend the lead with a layup, 17-13. Both teams were showing tremendous heart and willpower to open the season. The Midgets went to attacking the basket and would go to the line for 2 points. Kevin Edwards put in a layup and Schroeder added another trey followed by a jumper to lead 26-15. The Midgets called a timeout with 3:57 to go in the half. Putnam County came out of the timeout on fire adding the next 6 points of the game to trail 26-21. Ethan Bray would end the run with 2 freebies for the Tigers. The Midgets would keep chipping away at Macon with 4 more points to cut the lead to three. Schroeder and Bray would make sure the Tigers had the lead going into the half with back to back scores. At the break the Tigers held a 32-25 lead. The Tigers took the floor and ran off another 6 point run with a put back basket by Bradley Butner, a steal for a coast to coast score by Bray and a layup by Schroeder. The Midgets would answer with an 8 point run to cut the lead to 39-33. The Tigers would hold serve with a free-throw by Bray and a jumper by Butner after Macon rebounded a missed free-throw. Douglas would get into the act on the boards with an excellent offensive rebound and 2 points from the line. Momentum then took a seat on the Midgets bench with the next 6 points. Douglas had the answer to end the third period with a driving layup down the lane making the score 48-39. The Midgets opened the final frame with a flurry scoring the first 7 points as every 50/50 ball seamed to go their way. Putnam County cut the lead to one basket 48-46. The Tigers called a timeout and regrouped with 2 points by Schroeder and a layup by Hogsett. The Midgets retaliated with a 3-pointer and started fouling the Tigers. Max put in one freebie that was answered with one by the Midgets. Hogsett would hit both free-throw attempts to put Macon up 55-50. After a Macon timeout the Midget dropped in another 3-pointer to trail 55-53. Hogsett would add 2 more huge free-throws to now lead 57-53. Putnam County cut the lead back to 2 with two late free-throws. The Tigers would miss on 2 more free-throw attempts but Ethan Bray would collect a huge rebound on a missed basket to run the clock. With one second to go on the clock, the Midgets would have the ball to inbound at midcourt. The Midget would get the shot off but it would vary off course, sealing a Tiger victory, 57-55. Coach Davenport would add the following after the game, “I felt like our kids came out with a lot of energy and worked really hard on both ends of the floor. I saw a lot of good things and it was nice to come out on top. I thought we were able to control the tempo of the game and were able to force turnovers and tough shots. While the win is great, there is still a lot of room for improvement. Up 11 in the middle of 3rd quarter, we had an opportunity and should have put the game away. Some turnovers and a lack of rebounding allowed Putnam to make it a very exciting finish. Putnam played very well and made things difficult on us tonight. Starting off the season with this win is big for my kids. Knowing we have the ability to win tough, close game can give us a lot of confidence in the future. I look forward to seeing how we respond at Cameron on Tuesday.”