The Putnam County boys’ basketball team lost its first game of the season this past Friday, losing to Butler in Augusta. The Bulldogs mounted a strong second-half effort to defeat the War Eagles, 76-61.
While Putnam County head coach LaPatrick Marshall doesn’t like to lose, he suggested it could help his team grow in the long run. He feels his guys can play with less pressure now that they have a loss on their record.
“I’ve been saying for the longest time that we’re a young team. We had won some tight games,” Marshall said. “We went down but played well. We got down early (against Butler), fought back, and then took the lead in the second quarter. In the third quarter, we came out and didn’t play well.”
Putnam County’s leading scorer, Landon Bonner, got into foul trouble in the third quarter. After holding a two-point lead at the half, Butler outscored the War Eagles 20-10 with Bonner on the bench.
Putnam County had been in a situation like this before as it trailed by 13 points in the second half of last month’s season opener against Union County but couldn’t battle its way back this time.
The War Eagles trailed Butler 51-39 entering the fourth, but despite outscoring the Bulldogs 25-22 in the final quarter, they came up short.
“We fought tooth-and-nail to [make] the game closer,” Marshall added. “When we lost Landon to foul trouble, we had to sit him. It got him and us out of rhythm. Butler is a good defensive team, too. Points are hard to come by. When you lose your leading scorer, it’s tough to stay in the game.”
According to Marshall, the loss to the Bulldogs was a “learning experience” and his players will get better.
“I’ve been telling the kids for a while now that you’re going to tell how we are as a team after a loss,” Marshall said.
“Everything goes great when you’re winning; then you can get exposed when you lose. So, we went back in the lab and got it fixed before playing (Jasper County) the next day.”
Putnam County rebounded with a 73-71 victory over rival Jasper County in double overtime on Saturday, completing the season sweep. The War Eagles had three players in double-figures as well.
Bonner totaled 15 points, followed by sophomore J’mari Greene with 14 and freshman Jeremy Banks with 13 points. Each contributed in big ways down the stretch.
Marshall said Banks, younger brother of assistant coach Nick Banks and of War Eagles’ all-time leading scorer Eren Banks, was the “player of the game” against Jasper County.
“(Jeremy) hit a pair of big-time 3-pointers.
He did that as a freshman,” Marshall said. “He stepped up in the fourth quarter. He, J’mari (Greene), and Zay Hargrove. They’re so young. Two sophomores and a freshman, man. They were relentless. They led us. If I can get those guys to be consistent, man, the sky could be the limit for us. They’re all ahead of schedule. We grew up that game.”
Putnam County (8-1, 1-1 Region 4-AA) also opened up region competition last Tuesday against Laney at home.
The War Eagles defeated the Wildcats 68-62 as Greene scored a team-high 24 points.
Putnam County is back at it this Friday against Hancock Central on the road. The War Eagles already defeated the Bulldogs 69-65 on Nov. 24, so they’re going for another season sweep.
“I gave the guys a few days off early this week, and then we will get back at it in preparation for Hancock,” Marshall said. “We will then have a couple of days off for Christmas and then start to get ready for the post-Christmas tournament in Warner Robins. We will play Taylor County on Dec. 28.”