Cougars win huge game against Shawnee 58-53

In a game against a 2nd-ranked Shawnee team languishing in a two-game losing streak, the Cougars came up big to earn a 58-53 victory. The game had a playoff-type atmosphere, with Shawnee bringing a large group of fans to cheer on their team. The players on the court played with the same intensity felt in the stands as the teams scrapped for every loose ball and had to work for every positive outcome.

The first quarter was back-and-and forth. the Cougars jumped out to an 8-2 lead via baskets by Chris Santo ('11), Sam Rose ('11) and Marc Schlessel ('12). Shawnee came right back on an 8-0 run to take the 10-8 lead. However, Santo scored the next six Cougar points to take a 14-11 Cougar lead into the break at the end of the quarter.

Shawnee scored seven straight to open the second. Then, Jesse Gold ('12) stole the ball from a Shawnee player and capitalized on an open layup. Two Dan Melleby ('11) threes and a Jake Gurkin layup ('12) kept East close at the half, down 24-30.

Schlessel opened up the second half with a three and East took a lead after subsequent scores from Santo and Gurkin. Santo scored five more points in the quarter to keep East within two going into the final seconds of the half. Then, Gold made the play of the game as the time dwindled in the quarter. He drove hard to the hoop and put up a fancy layup to tie the score with two seconds left in the quarter.

Santo scored the first four Cougar points in the fourth. Then Schlessel hit a key three-pointer to put the Cougars up by three. Three Chris Santo points later, the Cougars gained the lead they would not lose at 51-49. They hit their foul shots at the end of the game to win, 58-53.

Player of the Game: Santo carried the team on his back this game with his 29 points and 10 rebounds. Jesse Gold also deserves credit for his solid play once Rose got into serious foul trouble early on in the game. His layup to end the third quarter was one of the great plays of the season to this point.

Key Stats

Santo-29 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals

Schlessel-11 points, 3 rebounds

Gurkin-4 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks

Rose-2 points, 3 assists

Melleby-6 points, 4 assists

Gold-6 points, 5 assists