As of late, Putnam County basketball has struggled, losing three straight games heading into this week.
The War Eagles fell to region opponents Westside-Augusta and Washington County at home last week. So, they’ll quickly try to rebound and fix things as they face Thomson and Glenn Hills this week.
The team’s struggles have caught the attention of coach LaPatrick Marshall, who knows his guys are going through a rough patch. Marshall felt the squad’s youth showed in those two losses last week.
“We’ve got to learn to bounce back,” Marshall said last week after a loss to Class 6A Veterans on Dec. 29. “With a young team, I don’t want them to get their head down. That sometimes can happen.”
Westside-Augusta, which is ranked No. 3 in Class AA and is the two-time defending state champion, defeated Putnam County 92-56 last Tuesday, with four players scoring in the double figures.
In the beginning, the game was competitive. The Patriots led 23-15 at the end of the first quarter. Their offensive showcase didn’t stop as they poured it on the War Eagles, who trailed 45-30 at the half.
Another huge reason why Westside took a huge lead in the second quarter was because of Putnam County’s turnovers. The War Eagles coughed it up more than half a dozen times in that period.
Westside’s press caused Putnam County guards Landon Bonner and Jaylin Harper a lot of trouble. The pair of War Eagle ball-handlers faced constant pressure when bringing the ball up the floor.
Westside also dominated down low, scoring most of its first-half points from inside the paint. The Patriots crashed the offensive glass, grabbing seven offensive rebounds in the opening two periods.
Westside’s Lavonte Ivery, Jarious Adkinson, Demarco Middleton, and Javan Webb scored at least six points in the first half. These players were four of the Patriots’ top-five scorers in the end.
In the second half, Westside didn’t take its foot off the gas, scoring 90-plus points for the fifth time this season. Adkinson led with 17 points, followed by junior Aldrion Jones with 15 points, respectively. Middleton contributed 14 points and Ivery added 11 points in the Patriots’ 36-point win.
Bonner, the team’s leading scorer, contributed 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Harper added 11 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in the loss to the Patriots last Tuesday.
Putnam County followed that loss up with a close defeat to Washington County, losing 64-59 last Friday.
Golden Hawk senior Keonta Durden couldn’t be stopped, scoring 24 points and grabbing 14 boards. Junior Brashod Heggs (15 points, nine rebounds) and senior Marquavion Cooper (14 points, five rebounds) also contributed down the stretch, making Washington County hard to defend.
The War Eagles led the Golden Hawks 31-29 at the half, but a poor nine-point effort in the third quarter had them trailing by eight entering the fourth, which is when Durden and Cooper took over.
In the third quarter, Washington County limited its mistakes and forced turnovers, leading to points on the other end. Sloppy play from the War Eagles put them in a hole they couldn’t get out of.
Bonner scored a team-high 21 points, followed by fellow senior Messiah Walker with 10 points.
“Our region schedule is going to be tough,” Marshall said last week. “I think we are battle-tested, though.”
This week, Putnam County will be at Thomson on Tuesday and is set to host Glenn Hills on Friday.