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| SUMMIT PHOTO BY BOB FENSKE
Brett Putz goes high above Mason City Nemwan's John Bothwell for a layup en route to a 50-point outburst that helped the Indians beat the Knights. |
Putz scorches Newman for 50
Junior guard hits 20 of 34 shots to lead Indians to 97-84 win
By Bob Fenske
Of The Summit
FOREST CITY - It has been a given that on game nights, Forest City basketball coach Dan Rosacker will be wearing a sweater vest.
On Friday night, he shocked his players when he arrived in a long-sleeved Forest City shirt, sans the vest. Thirty-two minutes of basketball later, Brett Putz never wants to see a sweater vest again.
Putz torched Mason City Newman for a school record 50 points to lead the Indians to a 97-84 win over the Knights.
“I've been dreaming of a game like this ever since I started playing basketball,” the 6-foot junior guard said after he broke the school record of 38 points that was shared by Nate Ludwig and Rob Kampman. “I mean everything, especially in the first half, felt so good. I've never been in a zone like that.”
Putz used slashing drives for layups, mid-range jumpers and 3-point bombs on his way to 50. He hit 20 of 34 shots from the field, including 8-of-16 from behind the arc. He had 14 points in the first quarter, 20 in the second and eight apiece in the third and fourth.
“The thing about Brett is - and this is what I hope kids who watch him see - is he doesn't force a lot,” Rosacker said. “He's so good at letting the game come to him. He forced a couple in the second half tonight, sure, but he's the type of kid who points the finger at himself right away and says, ‘Hey, I can't be doing that.'”
Despite Putz's huge night, Newman kept the game interesting through 2 1/2 quarters. Forest City led 58-43 at halftime, but the Knights began the third quarter with a 16-3 run to cut the deficit to 61-59 with four minutes left in the frame.
But with Putz scoring eight points and his little brother, freshman Tyler, chipping in with eight, the Indians closed the quarter with an 18-5 run.
Tyler Putz finished the night with 22 points while Newman's John Bothwell hit 14 of 15 free throws on his way to a 34-point night.
But this was a night that belonged to Brett Putz.
After the game, Forest City youngsters wanted his autograph, and as he signed, he gave his coach a little good-natured grief.
“Coach, don't ever wear that sweater again.”
- For more on this story, see the Dec. 20 Summit
Story created Dec 15, 2006 - 22:42:44 CST.
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