Lions outgunned by vengeful Cougars

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

After falling 43-52 to the Lions in mid-November, the Austin Crockett Cougars came to Lockhart on Tuesday night looking for payback. Inconsistent passing and shaky play from the Lions’ free-throw line gave the Cougars exactly what they were looking for – a 59-32 victory in the Lion’s Den.

The Lions played a groggy game from the

start, scoring only nine points in the first half, while the Cougars picked up 38. Crockett’s Darius Thomas was a consistent thorn in the Lions’ collective side, forcing turnover after turnover in the first half on off-target Lion passes. Additionally, Oby Ugoala, the Cougars’ 6’4” forward, vexed the Lions with 11 points in the half and 26 on the night.

Defensively, the Cougars were as aggressive as they were agile on the offense. Throughout the half, they forced the Lions to pass instead of shoot.

The situation did not improve for the Lions after the half. They picked up only eight points in the third, while the Cougars added another 14, expanding the lead to 52-17.

Lockhart started to turn things around in the fourth quarter, bolstering their offense to gain 15 points while holding Crockett to seven. The damage was done early, however, and the Lions ultimately fell 59-32.

Lions’ senior guard Jerrell McBride led his team in offense, with 11 points, including 4-5 from the line. Junior forward Marcus Westbrook chipped in nine, and hit three of seven free throws. Senior forward Samuel Sturm picked up five points, while Joseph Rodriguez had three. Marcus Rodriguez and Dylon Plummer had two points each.

After taking a few days to regroup, the Lions will be back in action over the weekend as they travel to Schulenberg for the Schulenberg Varsity Boys’ Round Robin on Friday and Saturday. The Lions will face off with the Schulenberg Shorthorns on Friday at 4:45 p.m., and then take on the LaGrange Leopards on Saturday at 1:45 p.m.

The Lions will host the Canyon Lake Hawks on Tuesday, Dec. 7 in the Lion’s Den. Tipoff is set at 8 p.m.