CHRISTOVAL— The Christoval Cougars took down the Sterling City Eagles last night to not only extend their winning streak but move one step closer to a district championship.
After the Lady Cougars downed the Lady Eagles the Cougars and Eagles took to the hardwood, entering the game undefeated in district play.
Mid way through the first quarter, the Eagles found themselves in a hole with the Cougars up 10-2 with four minutes left. While the Cougars held onto the lead after one, the Eagles were only down 12-6. Sevatian Salinas and Ethan Busch led the Cougars in the first quarter in scoring with four apiece while Ty Turner led Sterling City with six after heading into the second quarter.
Shots fell for both teams in the and the Eagles got hot, scoring 18 points to Christoval’s 14 which sent the Eagles up at halftime 26-24. Sterling City’s Johnny Monreal caught fire, scoring seven of the 18 points and Turner continued to drop points, adding six of his own.
The Cougars Garrett Thompson sank two three-pointers while Jaron Slaton and Gavin Balderas each scored four.
Entering into the second half, the Eagle’s Braydon Pitcock dropped a couple of three-point shots while Monreal and Adan Calderon scored three and two respectively. The game was still close but the Cougars managed to pull ahead thanks to a decent quarter from Salinas, who put up six points, while Slaton, Busch, and Landon Scott added eight points combined.
Going into the fourth quarter, the Cougars had a five-point lead, 40-35. Towards the end of the quarter, the Cougars still had the lead but thanks to two three-point shots from Monreal, the game was certainly within striking distance for the Eagles. In the end, the Cougars made the enough plays to pull out the victory.
The Cougars took this game 53-48 and remained undefeated in district.
SCORING:
CHS— Salinas-16, Slaton-11, Busch-8, Thompson-6, G. Balderas-4, Scott-4, Joiner-4
(3s- Thompson-2)
SC— Monreal-17, T. Turner-16, Pitcock-6, Calderon-4, Ferguson-3, S. Turner-2
(3s- Monreal-2, Pitcock-2)
“It feels good man. I was just telling the kids an ugly win is better than a pretty loss.” Cougars Head Basketball Coach Matthew Lowry said on the victory. “Sterling City, they’re well coached, they’re good, they play good defense. One of the toughest teams we’ve played all year. I’m just glad we came out with the “W” at home, it was a tough one.”
Before the game, Christoval, Sterling City, and Reagan County were in a three-way tie atop district with 4-0 records.
Talking with Salinas and Slaton after the game, they said the win felt good. The two also gave Sterling City credit but said they could play better.
“It feels good,” Salinas said, “We play together well, but we can do better.”
“They’re a tough team,” Slaton added, “Kudos to them but… we stuck through it, ups and downs the whole game, big runs on both sides and we never let up.”
Slaton gets a lot of attention and deservedly so after dropping 42 points in a single game this season. But against Sterling City, it wasn’t the Jaron Slaton show.
“I work hard for it,” said Slaton, “All these years you know, hard work is finally showing. My guys trust me, I have a coach that trusts me. I can trust him just as well.”
The Cougars are more than one player and Salinas, Busch, and Scott, really the whole team plays with the necessary intensity and drive to put together a special season. Salinas did lead the Cougars in points Friday night.
“I just try to get rebounds for this one (Slaton),” Salinas said, “We trust him a lot. He has earned it.
While the girls’ team starts the second half of district, the guys are a little behind in district play so this will be the first time the Cougars get the Reagan County Owls this season.
Also, it had to be asked, “Are the Christoval Cougars going to state?”
“100%” Slaton said.
DISTRICT STANDINGS
- Reagan County— 5-0
- Christoval— 5-0
- Sterling City— 4-1
- Forsan—2-3
- Water Valley— 2-3
- Eldorado— 1-4
- Ozona— 1-4
- Sonora—0-5
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