On 1/31 the Coronado Boys Basketball Team took on fierce D-11 rival Doherty in a tough and physical game on the team’s “Red-Out Night”. The 14-3 Spartans came in with tenacity and a #8 5A ranking, but the Cougars came in with their own determination, enjoying momentum from a close victory over Pine Creek.

Both teams were strong out of the gate, but as the first quarter progressed, Doherty began to pull away with powerhouse shooters Joseph Golden, Emmanuel Burleson, and Brevin Brimble. By the end of the quarter, Doherty was up by 8, 21-13. The Cougars fought back with tough defense, but unfortunately, their intensity got the best of them, the Cougars tallying 17 fouls over the course of the game.

Even with great effort by senior Joey Callan, totalling 19 points and 8 rebounds, senior Jaydon Lewis with 10 points and 9 rebounds, and junior Jareth Morey with 9 points and 4 rebounds, the Cougars fell behind to 37-70 deficit by the end of the third quarter.

Although the Cougars nearly matched Doherty’s points in the fourth quarter, they fell 53-89 to the Spartans. Senior captain Elijah Clanton said, “The game was difficult, because they are #7 in the state, and we had a lot of things to perfect.”

The 4-13 Cougars take on Pomona in their next game on 2/2 at home at 7 P.M., and they will also play Palmer at Palmer on Saturday, 2/4, at 5:30 P.M. Go Cougars!