The night was electric as the Ada Cougars were back to face the Star Spencer Bobcats for a second time.  The last time these two competitors battled it out, the Cougs brought home the 67-60.  The stakes were high as the loser would be sent home, and the winner on their way to state.  The two big cats fought with all their might but the Cougs pulled out the win again, 63-54.

The Bobcats’ aggressive playing style caused them to foul early and often, allowing the Cougs to shoot 28 out of 37 free throws that night. The Bobcats got an early 5-2 lead on the Cougs as they continued to cash in threes.  Kobe Burgess, AHS Freshman, drove in with enough ferocity to cause the Cats to foul. Burgess was able to draw three early fouls and went 4 for 6 at the free throw line to reduce the lead. With Vaughn Appleman, AHS Junior, and Ben Pruitt, AHS Junior, right behind him, the Cougs were still trailing 16-11 at the end of the first.

The Cougs seemed to be just warming up as the Cats continued to foul time after time. By the end of the quarter, Jermaine Lawson, AHS Senior, went three for four and Pruitt hit five for five from the line. With Appleman, Lawson, and Pruitt scoring twos right behind them, the lead began to dwindle away.

Pruitt continued to be a presence on the court as he grabbed one of the eight rebounds to soon be fouled. The Cats’ coach seemed to explode as Pruitt walked to the line and was given a technical. Pruitt easily made the one and one from the foul, then topped it off by making the two shots from the technical. Before the half ended, Monte Carpitche, AHS Senior, and Hunter Frazier, AHS Senior, both sunk threes to tie up the game.

As the game went into the third quarter, it was a struggle as both teams battled to gain the lead. Finally, at the end of the third, the score was 44-43 with the Bobcats in the lead.

As the fourth quarter rolled around, it seemed the Cougs got their second wind. Burgess and Lawson were a blur as they pressed down the court; meanwhile, Pruitt and Appleman were dominating in the paint and on the boards. The Cougs began to gain a lead, but the Cats weren’t giving up easily as they continued to fire threes to keep the lead short.

In the end, the Cats’ downfall were the fouls as Burgess sank three for four, Lawson hit six for seven and Pruitt six for seven. The final score was 63-54 giving Ada its 23^rd win this season. The game was a total team effort as the team used everything in their arsenal to win the game. The Cougs are now off to state as the Bobcats make their long trip back home.

Can’t make it to the game?  Watch the Cougars battle for a state title live online.