By By Matthew Nascone
The annual Escambia Academy JV Invitational did not go so well for the host Cougars and Lady Cougars this year. Both teams lost their two games, but the Cougars took it to the wire with the rival Sparta Warriors.
The boys lost 40-36, but they played tough defense in the fourth quarter and outscored the Warriors 9-5. However, Sparta outscored the Cougars in the other three quarters 35-27 for the win.
Gavin Salter led the Cougars with 12 points and was named to the All-Tournament team. Tanner Kirk added 9 points, Brandon Goddard had 8 points, Thomas Moore contributed 4 points, James Dean had 3 points and Keaton Maher had 2 points.
Faith 64 – Cougars 12
The Cougars brush with Faith Academy was not as close as the game with Sparta. The boys were downed 64-12. Faith never let up on the Cougars and outscored them 36-8 in the first half and 28-4 in the second half.
Maher added 6 points, Salter had 4 points and Conner Jaye had 2 points.
Girls
Sparta 34 – Lady Cougars 19
The Lady Cougars also played their better game against Sparta, losing 34-19. The first quarter was even, with the teams tying 7-7, but Sparta opened the game up with a 14-8 second quarter and held a 21-15 halftime lead.
They expanded on that lead, holding the Lady Cougars to four points in the second half, while scoring 13 of their own.
Samantha Lee led the Lady Cougars with 6 points, Amber Huskey and Taylor Helton had 3 points apiece, Kristen Matthews and Carlie Broughton had 2 points each and Rachel Fuller had 1 point.
Faith 43 – Lady Cougars 7
Faith took down the Lady Cougars 43-7 and EA did not score in the first or fourth quarters.
Lee opened the scoring for the Lady Cougars in the second quarter with a three-pointer and Niki Bryan and Fuller added 2 points apiece.
Faith won both the boys' and girls' tournament.