The Shadow
On Friday night, the Covington Cougars (6-10) varsity boys basketball team fell short of their comeback attempt as the Narrows Green Wave (11-6) held on for a big road victory 52-43 victory.
The Green Wave were led by Kolier Pruett and Derek Johnson, whom scored a combined 40 points in the teams victory. Pruett, scored a game-high 21 points to go along with a team-high nine assists, three assists, and two steals. Meanwhile, D. Johnson, finished the game second in scoring with 19 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Purcel Turner, did all he could during the Cougars comeback attempt from 19 points down in the first half by picking up another double-double. Turner, scored nine of his team-high 14 points in the second half along with pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds, and a game-high in assists with seven.
The first quarter set the tone for the entire first half.
Following a Levi Dressler three-pointer that put the Cougars ahead 4-3, the Green Wave, went on and scored eight straight points to take an 11-3 lead. The Green Waves, closed out the first quarter with a 13-5 lead.
The second quarter proved to be the best quarter for the Green Wave statistically as the teams field goal percentage was 60% (9-for-15). Behind an eight-point quarter from Pruett, the Green Waves expanded on their already eight point lead and went into the second half with a lead of 17 points at 33-16.
The defining moment of the second quarter came with the Green Wave leading 15-9. Turner, made a layup that was called off in result of an offensive foul on Turner. Turner, drove to the hoop and made a layup, but the Green Wave defender slid in with plenty of time and forced the offensive foul to be made by the referee. Had Turner made the layup, the Cougars would of only been down four points with a chance to cut to three points. Instead, the Green Wave would outscore the Cougars 18-6 the rest of the second quarter.
Despite trailing by 17 points entering the second half, the Cougars would not go away easily. Backed by a 9-3 scoring run to close out the second quarter and outscoring the Green Wave 15-7 in the third quarter, the Cougars found themselves within single digits by the end of the quarter.
Back to back Hayden Rodgers layups, brought the Cougars back within single digits (37-29) for the first time since the start of the second quarter. A Turner layup brought the team within seven points late in the third quarter.
Trailing by only nine points entering the final quarter, the Cougars could sense all the momentum was on their side. However, the Green Wave and their defense, had other ideas.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Rodgers knocked in a layup to cut the lead down to six points at 43-37. It would be the last time the Cougars had been able to get the deficit that low. The team wound up failing to cut the lead even further on four straight possessions. The Cougars missed three wide-open jump shots, a layup, and also turned the ball over.
After the missed opportunities by the Cougars, the Green Wave were able to settle down and maintained their lead as it grew back to double digits before ultimately winning by nine points. D. Johnson, had a seven point fourth quarter performance that helped seal the victory for the Green Wave.
Rodgers, finished second in scoring for the Cougars with 11 points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal. While, Dressler, scored nine points, second in rebound for the team with seven, one assists, and two steals.
The loss for the Cougars snapped their two-game winning. The team was back on the basketball court at Parry McCluer last night.
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ttl
NHS 13 20 7 12 52
CHS 5 11 15 12 43
Green Wave Statistics
Player Pts Reb Ast Stl
D. Johnson 19 5 2 2
Perdue – 1 3 1
Pruett 21 9 3 2
Shepherd 4 7 1 2
L. Johnson 2 1 – 1
McGlothlin 6 5 2 3
Cougars Statistics
Player Pts Reb Ast Stl
Turner 14 12 7 1
Williams 4 4 2 1
Dressler 9 7 1 2
Rodgers 11 2 2 1
Cook 2 3 1 –
Maloney 3 2 – 1
Evans – 2 – –
