Staff Reports
Cedar Creek’s boys picked up a win and the girls suffered a loss during basketball action Monday.
Cougars 49, Vidalia 33
Jake Terry scored 17 points and Rhett Bridges added 10 to lead the Cougars to a 49-33 win over Vidalia on Monday.
Creek (2-1) jumped out to a 14-7 lead after the first quarter behind a balance attack led by Terry (6), Luke Alexander (4) and Jace Martin (4). The Cougars extended their lead in the second quarter as Terry scored five while Cameron Temple connected on a three-pointer as Creek led 23-14 at the break.
The advantage stayed at nine through three as the two teams both netted 11 points in the third quarter. Terry and Martin each scored four points in the frame while Bridges connected on a three-pointer.
Bridges came to life in the fourth for the Cougars, scoring seven points while Blake Robinson added four in his season debut on the hardwood.
“It was really good to not play our best and still find a way to win,” said Creek head coach Todd Martinez. “Adding Luke Alexander from cross country and Blake Robinson from football field has really increased our depth.”
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Ponchatoula 48, Cedar Creek 38
Mary Grace Hawkins scored 14 points and Avery Ryan added eight but the Lady Cougars (1-2) came up short against Class 5A Ponchatoula 48-38 at the St. Thomas More Tournament Monday afternoon.
Creek had to play the majority of the game without senior point guard Taylor Martinez, who suffered an injury in the opening minutes.
“I’m heartbroken for our senior, Taylor Martinez, who went down with an injury in the first two minutes of the game,” said head coach Katie Hall. “She’ll get an MRI on Wednesday and will be out for tomorrow’s game.”
After watching one of their team leaders go down, the Lady Cougars got off to a slow start, trailing 14-7 after the opening eight minutes of play as Hawkins netted four and Britton Bennett connecting on a three-pointer.
Ponchatoula extended its lead to 29-19 at the half. Hawkins scored five, including her only three-pointer of the game, and Caroline James scored four.
The Lady Cougars found more offense in the third quarter led by Ryan’s five and a three-pointer by and an Alivia Lee three-pointer as Creek closed the gap to 41-34.
“I’m so proud of our girls for competing hard — we battled from behind most of the night, cut it to three with about four minutes to go, and just ran out of steam,” said Hall. “But this group has so much fight, grit, and determination. I have full confidence in the players who will step in and continue to play for their teammate, Taylor.”
Creek managed just four points over the final quarter as Ponchatoula was able to hold on for the win.
