Cougars Steal Win from Cougars in 7-3A Tilt
 By: Micah Cartwright, SuperCentex.com Correspondent
 January 29, 2010

Kyler Sykora hit a layup and a free throw after a steal with :31 seconds left to lift West to a big 55-52 win at China Spring Friday night. After a Marcus Mitchell three pointer with :52 seconds tied the game at 52, the Cougars looked like they were content to settle for the final shot. Sykora, however, stepped in front of errant pass at mid court and raced to the other end for a layup and a foul. It completed a 6-0 run to end the game.

In a game that was dominated by huge runs from both teams, it looked like the Trojans were going to get run out the gym early. China Spring, energized by the return of leading scorer Cody Schreck, jumped out to a quick 11-3 behind six quick points from the senior Schreck.

West settled in once the second quarter got underway and outscored the Cougars 22-8.  Jacob Crawshaw took advantage of Cougar big man Phillip Pullig being in early foul trouble by scoring eight of his game high 13 points in the quarter with some nifty work under the basket against an undermanned Cougar squad. Many of Crawshaw and his teammates baskets were set up beautifully by the smooth passes of point guard Kelvin Anthony who carved the China Spring defense all night with his precision passes.

Up 31-23 at the half, it appeared West was ready to deliver the knockout blow with Anthony and Mitchell going to the basket and building their lead up to 40-28 halfway through the third. The Cougars, however, would not go away quietly. Sparked by a pair of Buddie Chapman three pointers, China Spring responded with a resounding 14-3 run to end the quarter and close within 43-42.

The fourth quarter turned into a typical district slugfest where the Cougars eventually took their first lead in some time with a Pullig layup at the 6:15 mark. After the teams traded baskets throughout the quarter, it seemed China Spring had  finally taken control with a Schreck jumper and free throw by Chapman to a  50-46 lead with 2:04 left. It was short lived, however, with Anthony slicing his way through Cougar defenders for a layup and a free throw to cut it to one and then the Mitchell three pointer sandwiched between two Trey Bullard free throws.

With the win, West(14-11) finishes the first half of district 7-3A play in sole possession of second place at 4-1 while the Cougars (14-9) stand at
2-3. China Spring will travel to Whitney Tuesday night while West will host winless Hillsboro.