By By Chandler Myers
After picking up their first area win and second win of the season, the Cougars of Canoe dropped a loss to Monroe Academy 58-42 on Monday.
The Cougars (2-4, 1-0) gave the Volunteers a tough game through the first three quarters, but could not keep it close in the end.
Guard James White fueled the Cougars scoring with 16 points, while Michael Hippa added 15 points in the loss.
Coming into the final period of play the Cougars only trailed by two points.
The wheels fell off though as the Volunteers outscored EA 23-9 and picked up the big win over their rival.
The catalyst for the Volunteers was the visits they received to the free throw line. The Cougars fouled their way out of the game and allowed Monroe to hit 11 free throws.
Willis Webb led Monroe Academy with 22 points in the win in Canoe.
The Cougars host Lowndes Academy on Friday in Canoe. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m.
Escambia Acad. 48
Pickens Acad. 46
A halftime deficit of nine points did not stop the mighty Escambia Academy Cougars from fighting back to win their second game of the season on Saturday. The Cougars overcame the Pickens Academy Pirates first half success and won the game 48-46.
The Cougars (2-3, 1-0) started the game rough and slowly slipped into a hole.
Cougars’ head coach Kevin Woods said his team avoided miscues that had plagued them during the early part of the season.
Cougars guard Michael Hippa and forward Keaton Maher paced EA throughout the game. Hippa scored 13 points and recorded two steals, while Maher added 12 points, pulled down nine rebounds, blocked two shots and grabbed two steals.
Woods said his two leading scorers played their strongest games of the season.
Cougars guard James White put up a strong performance against the Pirates scoring 10 points, nabbing four steals, serving up three assists and pulling down two boards.
Cougars forward Jeff Price added nine points and proved to be a nuisance on defense grabbing six rebounds and posting six steals.
Woods said Price’s defense proved to be key down the stretch.
Cougar forwards Blake Kirk and Nate Smith each scored two points in the victory. Kirk pulled down eight rebounds and had two assists. Smith grabbed four boards, and had two steals with two blocks.
Woods said after struggling in their first few games this was a good way to start area play.