BAINBRIDGE – Before a minutes had passed in Tuesday night’s boys’ basketball game between North Putnam and North Montgomery, Ellis Lyons had dropped two threes and set the tone for senior night.
The Cougars were up by double-digits after a quarter and out of sight by halftime, rolling the Chargers 71-35.
Lyons’ pair of triples to start the game forced an early timeout from the visitors while a third from the same player made it 12-2.
Jarrod Kirsch hit one of his two threes in the quarter in reply but the second came after North Putnam (18-3) had built a 21-7 lead, sending North Montgomery (2-19) into the second quarter down 21-10.
Aaron Pickel hit two threes at the4 start of the period around a Lyons free throw before adding a layup to build a 32-14 advantage.
Zach Huff and Pickel added a pair of baskets to close the half, sending the Cougars into halftime leading 38-16.
A lowkey third quarter still saw the hosts add to their lead with senior Chase Hutto opening the half with a layup while North Montgomery had a couple of brief offensive pops along the interior as Drew Norman hit a hook shot while Colton Zachary scored twice on post moves.
Leading 51-23 after three periods, North Putnam saw the lead crest 30 for the first time on a Matt McHargue basket.
Kolby Harwood scored five quick points in the quarter for the visitors to help briefly keep the scoring pace but with the game well in hand, the Cougars were able to give all seven seniors in Lyons, Pickel, Huff, Hutto, McHargue, Nic Hensley and Will Buescher, their moments to be saluted by the crowd.
North Putnam returns to action Wednesday with its game at Fountain Central moved up a day while North Montgomery hosts Greencastle in its regular season finale.