Cougars put on a show, but can't finish in season finale

GAME 1: SAULT COUGARS vs MOHAWK MOUNTAINEERS

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – After picking up a thrilling win in Niagara last weekend, the Cougars went into the final two games of the season looking to end things on a high note. The young Cougars did not disappoint giving the fans something to look forward to next year. The first game started off close the entire quarter with the Cougars and Mountaineers going bucket for bucket including eight lead changes in the back and forth affair. Kevon Clarke went 3 of 3 shooting for 6 points and pulled in 6 rebounds in the opening ten minutes with Tristen Kamal adding a 3 pointer and 3 rebounds of his own. After all the lead changes and close play, the Cougars would find themselves down one to Mohawk at the end of the first quarter 19-18.

In the second quarter the Cougars ran into a hot shooting hand from Rommel Calura who would hit 4 of 6 from three-point range in the quarter to keep the back and forth game going for the first six minutes of the frame. The Cougars would go on a strong run in the last four minutes as they would continue to hit shots. Tristen Kamal kept up his strong play with 9 second quarter points and was only out paced by Simon Wal who went off for 14. Efficient play by both would contribute to a 50% shooting quarter for the Cougars who would outscore the Mountaineers by eight in the quarter and would take a 48-41 lead into the half.

The roles would reverse in the third as it was Mohawk's turn to outscore the Cougars. In a quarter in which the Sault ran into some offensive struggles, Stephen Miller kept the Cougars afloat with 11 points and three big 3's to keep the Cougars in the game. Kevon Clarke and Tristen Kamal were a big presence again in the rebound category with 5 and 3 respectively. At the end of the third it would be Mohawk outscoring the Cougars by eight and holding the lead this time at a narrow 65-64.

Both teams were drawn back into a close game in the fourth going toe to toe until the last minutes of play. Rommel Calura for Mohawk and Tristen Kamal for the Cougars would go back and forth with points as both tried to bring their team ahead. The Cougars would battle back after the Mountaineers took the lead to get the score to 82-80. Despite finishing the game with three different 20 points scorers the Cougars would allow Cudjoe Masuka to the line where he made two free throws to put the game just out of reach. Mohwak would finish would the narrow 84-80 win.

Cougars Scoring: Stephen Miller (20 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal), Tristen Kamal (20 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists), Simon Wal (20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assist, 2 steals), Kevon Clarke (10 points, 21 rebounds, 1 assist)

GAME 2: SAULT COUGARS vs MOHAWK MOUNTAINEERS

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – With the Cougars establishing they could hang with Mohwak, they were looking for a different result in game two. Mohwak would draw first blood however, and go on a run of their own to start the game. With the Mountaineers up 12-4 Simon Wal made a layup and came back down the floor to hit a 3 pointer to get the Cougars rolling. They would take it to the Mohawk defense after that with Kevon Clarke and Jaylyne Moore-Tucker also stepping up for the Cougars in the frame. The score would be 20-19 in favour of Mohawk going into the second.

Mohawk would continue to test the Cougars in the second. Cudjoe Masuka, who had been big for the Mountaineers all weekend went off for 11 points in the second as he was a focal point in game two. The guards for the Sault would respond as points came in from Stephen Miller and Anthony Hall as they tried to limit the damage done by Mohawk. The Cougars did their best but couldn't contain Moawhk as they shot 57.9% from the field in the quarter and went into half with a 45-38 lead.

The Cougars came out much better in the third. Although the first half of the quarter was a bit slow by both teams, play picked up in the ladder half of the frame with Jaylyne Moore-Tucker going off for the Cougars with 10 points and 6 rebounds while he was all over the court. After outscoring Mohawk 23-20 in the quarter the Cougars were within striking distance going into the fourth at 65-61.

It was make or break time for the Cougars in the fourth as Valentine Okeke came out in the opening minute for a big bucket and the foul call to get the team within one point of the Mohawk lead. A flurry of 3's from Mohawk would extend their lead over the Cougars after the couple shots the Sault hit to open the frame. With three minutes left head coach Pat Murray would call a timeout to calm things down and make a final push. The timeout worked as Stephen Miller and Kevon Clarke got a couple points apiece along with an Anthony Hall 3-pointer to force Mohawk into using a timeout of their own. After Mohawk's timeout Rommel Calura would hit a 3, followed by a Rickey Morrison layup put the Cougars down nine with a minute left. With no timeouts left to use the Cougars were forced to foul, Mohawk would make the ensuing free throws to put the game out of reach for the Sault with a final of 91-82.

Cougars Scoring: Kevon Clarke (20 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block), Jaylyne Moore-Tucker (17 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals), Stephen Miller (15 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists).