After a first half in which the Cougars scored just 15 points but still led by three, the Cougars came out alive in the second half to put away the visiting Butler County Bears 52-36.
The Cougars were ice cold in the first quarter, hitting just one of seven shots to trail 6-2 at the start of the second period. But they warmed up enough in the second period to outscore the Bears 13-6 in the second period to take a three-point lead into the half, 15-12.
Spencer Sharp scored 10 of the 13 Cougar points in the second period and his two free throws with 2:22 left in the half put the Cougars in front to stay, 13-12.
The Cougars then opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run to open up an 11-point lead, 25-14 at the 4:39 mark. The Bears pilled back to within seven points of the lead, 27-20 with 2:06 left in the period, but that would be as close as they would get the rest of the way.
Parker Rice led the Bears with 14 points and Jaden Hurt added 11.
Sharp led all scorers with 23 points. Q’Daryius McHenry joined Sharp in double figures with 13 points and he made it a double-double night by pulling down 13 rebounds. Nolan Shartzer scored four points and added four boards.
Josh Embry and Jaxon Higdon both finished with three points, while Matthew Loughran, Chandler McCrady and Hunter Tomes all scored two to complete the scoring.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k-105.com
