Cougars claw SC, 60-51

The basketball clich’ of a tale of two halves rang true last night in Ramsey in the season-opening game between host North Harrison and South Central.
The visiting Rebels roared out to a 16-9 lead by the end of the first quarter and held the same seven-point margin at the half, 32-25.
North was able to come back and tie the game at 40-all in the third period before outscoring the Rebels in the final stanza, 20-11.
South Central led 9-0 and 11-2 in the opening frame, but a opening-period three-ball by North’s Cory Beach followed by an inside bucket by teammate Zach Janes trimmed the Rebels’ lead to two.
South’s Jimmy Jamison, who wound up with 10 points on the night, converted an old-fashioned three that was answered by a triple from Janes.
North’s Jon Couts tied the game on a shot from downtown with 4:40 left in the second period, but South’s Derek Kaiser countered with a three-point play.
In the third period, Janes and Troy Eveslage got baskets to cut the 32-25 halftime deficit to three points, where the gap stayed until Janes hit another three-point play to tie the contest at 36-all.
South Central’s Chad McRae, who was held to nine points, hit a baseline jumper for a 40-36 advantage.
Janes and Derek Rainbolt would hit deuces to tie the game again at the end of three periods, 40-40.
Josh Kidd opened the final quarter with a basket inside for the Cougars to give his club a lead it wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the way.
Rainbolt scored eight of his 10 points in the final period to solidify the win.
Janes led all scorers woth 20 points, followed by Couts with 14.
Kaiser was the Rebels’ top man with 15 points. Brandon Eschbacher had seven points.
The Cougars finished 12 of 21 at the charity stripe while South could only manage to sink nine of 19 tries.
North Harrison’s next matchup will be at county-, conference- and sectional-rival Corydon Central on Dec. 3.
The Rebels will try and regroup this Saturday night at home when they’ll host the Wolfpack of Crawford County.