Cougars fall to Falcons in close matchup
MEN'S BASKETBALL
GAME 1: SAULT COUGARS vs FANSHAWE FALCONS
SAULT STE. MARIE – The Cougars would find themselves in yet another close game to start off the weekend, this time against the Fanshawe Falcons. The start of the game had the two teams trade baskets including a 3 by Valentine Okeke and 10 seconds later a 3 by the Falcon's Marco Maletic. The Cougars would hit two more 3's in the next couple minutes, one from Jaylyne Moore-Tucker and another from Okeke which would help the Cougars end the quarter with an 18-13 lead.
In the second quarter the Falcons were powered by 4-5 shooting from 3 including two from Maletic, while Kevon Clarke carried the offensive load for the Cougars scoring 6 points while Mahier Mohamed hit a 3 and was effective moving the ball around for the Cougars. Fanshawe would end up outscoring the Sault 18-11 in the 2nd to take a 31-29 lead into the half.
The 3rd quarter was dead even with each team scoring 22 to keep the game within 2 points. Simon Wal stepped up for the Cougars in the 3rd with 11 points and Stephen Miller added 6 points and 2 steals that each led to buckets at the other end of the floor.
The final frame had Moore-Tucker contribute 6 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals to try and change the tide of the game. Unfortunately for the Cougars foul trouble would hurt them as they sent Fanshawe to the line for 16 free throws including Alfred Johnson to the line for 12 in the 4th, 7 of which he made to end up costing the Cougars an 82-69 loss.
Cougars Scoring: Simon Wal (13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists), Kevon Clarke (12 points, 11 rebounds), Mahier Mohamed (11 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists).
GAME 2: SAULT COUGARS vs FANSHAWE FALCONS
SAULT STE. MARIE – After a close game the night before both teams got off to a bit of a slow start in game two with the first points not being scored until 3 minutes into the game from a Fanshawe 3 point shot. The Falcons then took advantage and got out to an 11-point lead before the Cougars started to pick up the pace including 3 steals to try and get back into the game. The lead at the end of the 1st would sit at 16-8 Falcons.
The Cougars woke up in the 2nd and outscored the Falcons in the frame thanks in part to a full 10 minutes from Kevon Clarke and Brian Senecal. Both men were all over the court with Clarke going off for 8 points adding 3 rebounds, 2 assists and a block to go with it. Senecal played to his strong suit and knocked down two 3's and came up with a steal and 2 assists to go along with his strong 2nd quarter play. The Cougars got back into the game with the score being 32-27 Falcons at half.
The Cougars tried to keep pace in the second half with Valentine Okeke driving the play in the third with a couple of steals and a deep 3 pointer. Jaylyne Moore-Tucker came up big in the 4th quarter for the second game in a row leading the team with 7 points and Anthony Hall came off the bench to add 6 points on two 3's of his own. The Falcons duo of Maletic and Johnson proved to be too much in the second half though, and would combine for 22 points in the second half to send the Cougars to another hard fought, close loss 74-59.
Cougars Scoring: Kevon Clarke (10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block), Brian Senecal (10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists), Jaylyne Moore-Tucker (9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals).
Up Next: The Cougars play host to the Humber Hawks at the Sault College Health & Wellness Centre on Saturday November 30th @6:00pm and Sunday December 1st @ 2:00pm.