COLUMBIA, Mo. — After a hot-shooting first half, Putnam City North struggled in the third quarter in a 71-67 loss to Chaminade (Mo.) Friday (Dec. 5) in the Norm Stewart Classic at Mizzou Arena.

“This was a big-time high school basketball game,” Putnam City North coach DJ Lemons said via text. “Incredibly proud of our team. I thought we came out, played a great first half, really competed at a high level.

The Panthers shot nearly 68 percent in the first half but only 40 percent in the second half. North’s sharpshooters went 5-of-11 from the 3-point line in the first half. The Panthers missed all six 3-point attempts in the second half.

After leading 42-36 at halftime, the Panthers were outscored 18-8 in the third quarter.

Senior Nate Muriithi scored a game-high 27 points on 9-of-9 shooting from the field. Murrithi also grabbed five rebounds.

“What he does and how he competes and how he shows up, I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Lemons said of Muriithi. “I could not be more proud of coaching this guy.”

Junior Miles Jackson added 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Jackson drilled 2 of 3 shots from beyond the arc. Sophomore Keaton Murry followed with 11 points. Murry was 5-of-9 from the field.

Lemons gave Chaminade credit for the plays they made.

“I think they showed incredible maturity, and their experience came out in that second half, no question.”

North was without junior Mehki Thomas due to sickness. Senior Malakye Schoats banged up his knee in the fourth quarter.

Despite the loss, Lemons was upbeat.

“I feel more optimistic tonight losing than I did even before because you find out in this game the character of your team, the heart that they have, and this team’s got a lot of heart,” Lemons said.

UP NEXT

On Saturday (Dec. 6), North meets Cardinal Ritter (0-3), another Class 6 school in St. Louis. Tip-off in Columbia is at 10 p.m .

Photographs courtesy of Norm Stewart Classic.

	1	2	3	4	F
Chaminade (Mo.) (1-1)	19	17	18	15	71
Putnam City North (3-1)	21	21	8	17	67