WARR ACRES – Putnam City North used a strong second half to erase a double-digit deficit and then held on to win, 48-46, over Putnam City in the “Battle of the Expressway” Thursday (Dec. 5).

After the Pirates outscored the Panthers, 16-3, in the second quarter to take a 27-10 lead into the locker room, North coach DJ Lemons said it was his assistant coaches were the big motivators for the Panther run and his team responded.

SCHOOL	PC DISTRICT RECORD
Putnam City North	1-0
Putnam City West	0-0
Putnam City	0-1

“They just came out, they were just the most physical, most aggressive team,” Lemons said.

In the third quarter, North senior Khai Brown knocked down three treys to help key a Panther rally.

Junior Nate Muriithi pulled North within two points with 2:23 left in the third quarter with a layup and a free throw to make it 33-31. Putnam City answered with five straight points to end the quarter, capped off by a bucket at the buzzer by sophomore MarQuell Robinson off a North turnover a midcourt.

The Pirates extended the lead to eight points, 42-34, in the fourth quarter before the Panthers made their final push.

North’s Anthony Leonard hit a 3-pointer to make it 44-41. The senior dunked with 2:31 and followed with a free throw to tie the game at 46-46 with 2:13 left.

North took its only lead of the game with 1:47 left. Panther sophomore Mekhi Thomas got a steal and pushed the ball up the floor. He connected with junior TJ McNeely who put up a layup to give North a 48-46 advantage.

Neither team could score again and the Panthers seemed content to run out the clock when Robinson stepped in front of a pass to give the Pirates a chance for the win.

With :20 left, the Pirates tried to find an open game-winning 3-pointer but the North defense didn’t allow any space.

After a timeout, Putnam City tried again with :07 left.

Pirate sophomore Gabe Osborne drove into the paint but missed the shot. A North foul followed but it was deemed to be on the floor and not on the shot.

PC inbounded the ball with seven-tenths of a second left and the ball was deflected by North out of bounds.

After some discussion, officials put two-tenths of a second on the clock for one final Pirate try.

The inbounds pass was intercepted by Muriithi to seal the win for the Panthers. North players and students sprinted onto the floor.

“It was a good old rivalry game,” Lemons said. “It was a good finish at the end, an exciting one, entertaining one – something in the boys can always remember”

Putnam City coach Brandon Jackson said after the game that his squad was “going for the win and a 3 “in the last possession.

“We didn’t execute the way we were supposed to,” Jackson said.

Despite the loss, Jackson thought the game and the rivalry environment was a good thing.

“I think that’s really good for high school basketball. It’s really good for the Putnam City School District that two teams battled it out,” Jackson said.

Brown finished with a game-high 17 points (12 in the third quarter).

Lemons said after Brown struggled in first half with only three points, he drained a 3-pointer during third quarter run.

“He looked at me, he was like, ‘man, I got us,’ ” Lemons said. And, I trust my players.”

Lemons highlighed McNeely, who scored the winning bucket.

“He’s been our heart and anchor right now for the defense, taking charges, rebounding, does all the little things that don’t come up in the stat box, but everything that he does, the coaches and his teammates appreciate it.”

Robinson paced the Pirates with 15 points.

Jackson said he was proud of the effort and energy from his PC squad.

“They all gave us a chance to win at the end,” Jackson said.

UP NEXT

The Panthers (2-2) host Putnam City West Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Patriots beat the Wildcats, 88-56, Tuesday (Dec. 3).

For North, it marks back-to-back nights on the floor.

“Like I told our guys, that’s the good thing that we’re a deep, we’re a deep team,” Lemons said. “Our players are always ready.”

The Pirates (1-1) travel to West Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

“They’re well coached with Brian Booker,” Jackson said of the Patriots. It’s gonna be another dog fight.”

Photographs courtesy of Richard T. Clifton

	1	2	3	4	F
Putnam City North (2-2)	9	3	19	17	48
Putnam City (1-1)	11	16	11	8	46