By By Chandler Myers
Escambia Academy made their win against the Monroe Academy Volunteers count as they poured in 26 fourth quarter points to pick up a 65-53 win in Monroeville Monday night.
The Cougars fought the Volunteers until the end as they trailed the home team for the majority of the game including the ends of the previous three quarters.
Cougars junior forward Keaton Maher paved the path to the Cougars victory as he led the team with one of its two double-doubles. Maher posted 16 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks.
Cougars’ center Nate Smith also recorded a double-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in the win.
From the opening tipoff, the Monroe Volunteers looked as if they would control the game as they took the lead and held it outscoring the Cougars 9-7 in the first quarter.
The Cougars were able to outscore the Volunteers in the second period as they put 17 points to the Volunteeers’ 16 and the teams went into halftime with Monroe ahead 25-24.
After halftime, both teams came back to the court ready to put on a great show for the fans.
The Volunteers played stronger in the third quarter as they were able to pull ahead by three with a 42-39 lead as they outscored the Cougars 17-15.
The Cougars made their final stand in the fourth quarter though as they pushed their way past the Volunteers, forcing them to foul as three trips down the floor resulted in an extra free-throw after a made basket.
The Cougars took their momentum and ran the Volunteers out of their own gym by scoing 26 points to get a 12-point win over their rivals.
Cougars that scored in the win included guard Michael Hipa with 13 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals; guard James White with 12 points, two steals, two assists and one rebound; guard Brandon Goddard with four points and a rebound and forward Darren McGhee with three points and five rebounds.
Cougar guards Jaylen Henry added two points and rebound, while guard Tanner Kirk scored one point with two rebounds and an assist.
EA JV 40
MA JV 17
The Cougars of Canoe junior varsity squad crushed the Monroe Academy Volunteers 40-17 Monday afternoon in Monroeville.
The Cougars picked up the win easily outscoring their opponents in every quarter.
Cougars Jordan Sasser and Jacob Dean led the team with 10 points each. Blake Quimby and Paul Arnold each had six points.
In the first quarter, the Cougars jumped out to an 11-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and made their lead 19-4 going into halftime.
In the third and fourth quarters, the Cougars again outscored Monroe putting up a total of 21 point in the half and holding the Volunteers to 13.