Cougs take doubleheader at LHS

LOOGOOTEE—Although a few teams across the state hit the floor on Monday, for Daviess and Martin County, Tuesday at Jack Butcher Arena was the official boys basketball kickoff.

The game not only had all of the normal fanfare, it also had the additional intrigue as the first game with former Barr-Reeve coach Josh Thompson on the sidelines for rival Loogootee.

The game ended up feeling more like March than November, with the Cougars winning 50-44 in overtime.

ND used balanced scoring with Aaron Marner getting 13, 11 from Koen Stoll and 10 from Collin Lengacher to find a way to win, while Loogootee’s AJ Foster had 21 and Will Lyon had 10.

“I credit Loogootee, they game planned well and our execution wasn’t great, but we did a great job with our free throws down the stretch and I’m very proud of those guys,” said ND coach Brent Dalrymple. “This game doesn’t make a difference in March, but it does give me bragging rights at Thanksgiving," said ND coach Brent Dalrymple.

"I feel like they (ND) are a step ahead right now, as we are putting things in still, but I was proud of our kids,” said Thompson.

Both teams started tied 5-5 with triples from Stoll and LHS' Lyon. Marner had an early hot hand with six of the first nine Cougar points. The Lions then went on a burst with buckets from Christian Garcia and Foster for a 14-9 lead, which is how the first quarter would end.

The second started with 3-balls from Stoll and Marner and ND was back on top. The lead see-sawed with baskets from Garcia and Cougar Colin Lengacher. Foster added a deep three but Keaton Graber’s basket at the end of the quarter pulled the Cougars back to 21-22 at the half.

Foster had Loogootee’s first five points of the third and the Lions too a 27-24 lead. Foster picked up all nine of Loogootee’s points in the third, as they went up 31-28 with eight minutes to play.

Marner and Coby Loheider quickly got the lead back for ND. The game remained tight with Lyon and Lengacher draining 3s.

Stoll and Keaton Graber gave the Cougars a little breathing room at 39-36 with 2:43 to play. Foster tied it on a traditional 3-point play and Lyon put the Lions up 41-39 with :16.9 left. However, Stoll added a pair of free throws to tie forcing Loogootee to go the length of the floor in 3.4 seconds to avoid the overtime.

Stoll gave ND a 46-44 OT lead. Loheider and Graber added free throws that sealed the deal at 50-44.

Lady Cougars 30, Lady Lions 29

The night started off with the Lady Lions taking on the Cougars in a cat fight. The Lady Cougs were able to hold off 4-0 Class A No. 6 Loogootee for the 30-29 win.

Although the Lions outscored ND in the second half, it wasn’t enough to off-set 11 points from senior Macy Alderson, eight from Lola Graber and seven from Maleah Lengacher.

“It was gritty, we played hard even if it wasn’t pretty,” said ND coach Joe Riggins. “Maleah was frustrated tonight, but that forced us to find other ways to win.”

Alderson had two of the first three Cougar buckets leading to a 6-2 ND lead. Aubrey Ferguson added free throws to make it 8-3 which is how the quarter ended, however 6-1' Lion Alaina Diamond picked up her second foul late in the quarter for LHS.

Alderson and Graber pushed it to 12-5 ND as the Lions continued to be hurt by turnovers. Sophia Toy gave the Lions the first triple of the night. The Cougs roared back with the next with the next four points to give them a 18-8 lead through 16 minutes.

Diamond returned in the third with a free throw and a block, as LHS had a quick 4-0 advantage in fouls and cut the lead to 11-18. The offense picked up both ways, with Ava Jeffers getting a pair of Lion baskets and Alderson answering with a trey. The Lions cut it to 19-23 after a flurry from Jeffers and Hawkins and would cut it to 21-24 through three.

LHS cut it just one at 23-24, but Lengacher posted her first triple in response. Diamond tied it at 27-all and Lydia Hawkins tied it at 29. With just :07.7 left Ferguson added a free throw to give ND the lead. The Lions had a final chance with :04.2 but were unable to convert.

The Lions were led by Hawkins with 12, and six each from Diamond and Jeffers.