PC downs North
Even without star Xavier Henry, the Pirates still pack a potent scoring attack, as Putnam City spoiled the North boy’s first home game on Tuesday night with a 62-45 win.
The Huskies fell behind early, as the Putnam City opened with a 12-0 run, but North battled back scoring the final eight points of the first quarter, to pull within 17-10 heading into the next quarter of play.
North’s Eric Randall came alive down low, scoring a game-high 23 points, including seven in a span of three minutes, which saw the Huskies take a 23-20 lead.
The Huskies fed Randall the ball in the post, as the 6-7 forward hit easy layups. Cody Crabaugh hit a jumper to pull the Huskies within 21-20, before Randall stepped outside and drained a three pointer from the top of the key.
Randall hit another shot from close range, but the Pirates regained its composure before the brake, taking a 28-25 lead.
“I was proud of him (Randall), he worked his butt off. He was aggressive, he attacked and he rebounded. He did everything we asked him to do, and he works hard. He’s been getting a lot better, and those are the things that we expect from him,” head coach Kyle Bengs said.
The Pirates raced to a 37-27 lead in the third, before Ford Goetz ended North’s scoring drought with a three pointer, with 5:05 left.
Putnam City then willed its way to a 46-31 lead with its pressing defense, heading into the final quarter of play.
North never got with 13 points of the Pirates in the fourth, as PC cruised to the win.
“I think a little bit of the pressure got to us, we got careless with the basketball, we just got a little lazy,” Bengs said. “I think if we can cut that out and make the sure pass, we’ll be fine.”
The Huskies 0-3, will be playing Stillwater on Friday night.
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