Cougars put up a fight against powerhouse Saints
MEN'S BASKETBALL:
GAME 1: SAULT COUGARS vs ST. CLAIR SAINTS
WINDSOR – The Cougars went into the weekend knowing to expect a handful from the nationally ranked (9th) St. Clair Saints, but the Saints couldn't have foreseen what the Cougars would bring into the first game over the weekend. The Cougars would get off to a hot 8-0 start from good teamwork by the starting lineup and would hold onto the lead for a majority of the quarter ending at 23-17 going into the 2nd.
The Cougars kept up the pressure in the 2nd quarter and had Simon Wal hit two 3's and Jaylyne Moore-Tucker provide 3 rebounds to hold the lead again for the majority of the quarter. A late surge by the Saints ended the quarter with the Cougars down by 1, 43-42 into the intermission.
It was the Saints turn to start a quarter holding a lead which they would hold until the Cougars broke through with 8 points from Valentine Okeke and 7 points with 4 rebounds from Jaylyne Moore-Tucker to get the Cougars the lead back to end the 3rd and going into the final frame.
The 4th quarter came down to the wire with the Cougar's Simon Wal going off for 8 points and St. Clair's David Gomez matching Wal with 14 points of his own to keep a 2-point lead in the dying seconds of the quarter. Wal would have the last laugh as he would hit 2 free throws to tie the game and even had a chance to win but would miss 3-point attempt to send the game into overtime.
Overtime saw the Cougars draw first blood, but St. Clair would wear them down by going 7 for 8 in free throws in the extra time to send the Saints to the narrow hard fought 105-99 win.
Cougars Scoring: Simon Wal (38 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists), Valentine Okeke (14 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists), Jaylyne Moore-Tucker (13 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block).
GAME 2: SAULT COUGARS vs ST. CLAIR SAINTS
WINDSOR – The Cougars were riding high from their game one performance looking to knock off the Saints in game two, but St. Clair was eager to prove why they are ranked 9th nationally after almost letting game one slip. The Saints came out of the gate white hot as they knocked down 12 of 24 shots (50%) and out rebounded the Cougars 16-6 in the quarter. Simon Wal and Kevon Clarke accounted for most of the offense in the 1st but it was the Saints that would possess the 33-7 lead.
The 2nd quarter had the Cougars start to find their offensive groove with Valentine Okeke stepping up with 6 points in the frame and Kevon Clarke adding 6 of his own to try and get the Cougars back in the game. The starters for St. Clair however kept hitting their shots to maintain the lead which was 60-24 at half.
The Saints did not let off the gas in the second half, in a game where all 14 Saints players wound up on the scoreboard. Simon Wal and Jaylyne Moore-Tucker provided some spark off the bench with Wal pouring in 16 points in the second half and Moore-Tucker behind with 11. Despite the 4th quarter being the best offensive portion of the game for the Cougars the Saints would prove themselves as the 1st in the conference and 9th in the country with the 116-64 win.
Cougars Scoring: Simon Wal (19 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals), Jaylyne Moore-Tucker (13 points, 8 rebounds), Kevon Clarke (10 points, 10 rebounds, 1 block).
Up Next: Cougars are at home for a two game set against the Fanshawe Falcons this weekend. Games are Saturday November 23rd @ 8:00pm and Sunday November 24th @ 3:00pm at the Sault College Health and Wellness Centre.