Cougars out-bulldog Dugger

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Conner Wikle and Wes Lengacher work for a basket against Union on Thursday. Kelly Overton

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February 10, 2012

By Gregg A. Sims Washington Times-Herald The Washington Times-Herald Fri Feb 10, 2012, 08:06 AM EST

ELNORA — ELNORA — Lewis Nugent scored 17 of his team-high 25 points and Alex Wittmer scored a career-high 16 as Class A No. 9 North Daviess defeated Dugger, 53-45, at the Cougar Den Thursday in a Southwestern Indiana Conference basketball game.

Nugent hit two threes, a pair of field goals and 7-8 from the line in the second half despite not starting the final 16 minutes.

“Once we got Lew going, he had a good night,” North Daviess coach Brent Dalrymple said. “Everyone just had moments where we didn’t pay attention to detail, little stuff. There was just little stuff. We weren’t communicating. It puts a little damper on this win, but Lew had a great night. He’s done a great job shooting for us as of late.”

The Cougars (15-4, 5-1 Southwestern Indiana) didn’t have a great night, but it was a winning night. A portion of that win goes to Wittmer, a sophomore, who scored eight points in the second quarter on the way to his 16.

“I’m really happy for Alex,” Dalrymple said. “He’s gone through a tough season. He’s a sophomore and there’s a lot to learn about the next level. It’s been a tough year for him, but give credit to him — he’s sticking with it and showing the type of heart that you need to play at the varsity level. He’s tough-minded, and congratulations to him for getting done what he is getting done.”

The Cougars appeared ready to put Dugger (4-16, 0-7) away early after taking a 9-2 lead, but Dugger senior Tyler Talpas threw in a one-handed runner from just inside the timeline as the first quarter ended.

Dugger then started the second quarter with the ball, and center Ethan Fettig added a field goal 20 seconds into the quarter, and the Bulldogs were suddenly two-points back.

“We are a team that will have to survive some runs,” Dalrymple said. “They (Dugger) hung in real well, and we had some turnovers in the first half that hurt us a bit.”

Talpas had five points in the opening quarter, counting a desperation three that banked in after making nearly two trips around the rim before falling through. It was a sign of things to come for the senior who ended the game with 30 points.

The Cougars rebounded to open a 22-13 lead with 1:13 to play in the half before Dugger again cut the gap to 22-16 with three free throws in the final 73 seconds.

North Daviess opened the lead to 31-24 at the end of the third quarter, but Talpas got two treys to bring the Bulldogs back to 36-33 with 5:54 to play.

Nugent got a three to help North Daviess back to a 42-37 advantage before Zac Birdson hit a three after the ball bounded off the rim, high on the backboard, before falling in with 2:30 remaining.

But the ball contacted support wiring above the goal, nullifying the score and giving North Daviess some room.

Nugent made two free throws, Wittmer added two, and North Daviess was home free.

“I told the kids that we thought he (Talpas) might be one of the five players we would play all year,” Dalrymple said. “We can confirm that, he is in the top five of the kids we play. He’s a nice player. You see a different team (Dugger) than you’ve seen in recent years. They have a plan, run some nice stuff and play good defense. I was impressed in what they’ve done.”

While the win was not a Picasso by any means, it was a win — a conference win the Cougars were happy to get.”

“We talked at the end of the game that good teams make adjustments,” Dalrymple said. “They were playing that 2-3 zone, and we tried at least five different ways to attack it. Finally with about five minutes left we found a way that worked.”

North Daviess won the junior varsity game, 50-36. Adam Wagler scored 19 points for the Cougars.

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