End first semester on high note

They don’t ask how, they ask how many, and that number for the Mount Royal Cougar women’s basketball team is eight. They registered their seventh and eighth wins this weekend against the Red Deer Queens.

Friday night was a scrappy, low-scoring defensive battle, and the Cougars emerged victorious with a 55-45 win.

Celeste Clarke led the way for the Cougars with 19 points, and Jamie Morck had a double-double with 10 point and 12 rebounds. No other Cougar scored more than seven points, as Morck and Clarke accounted for over half the Cougar points.

Team defence, on the other hand, was of the highest level on this night for the Cougars, as they held their opponents to 31 per cent shooting, and a paltry six fourth-quarter points when the game was on the line.

This marks the second game of the season that the Cougars have won while scoring under 60 points.

Back on Kenyon Court Saturday, the Cougars proved that their offense could carry the load if need be. The Cougars won the rematch 72-53 behind a monster game from Jamie Morck.

Morck had 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting and grabbed 17 rebounds, one shy of her season high. Morck has been a rebounding machine for the Cougars all season, limiting second chance points for the opposition and giving her team some in return.

Emily Larson added 15 for the Cougars, and Celeste Clarke netted 14. Rookie Danica Rybachuk chipped in with 10 points.

The Cougars took an 18-11 first quarter lead, and never looked back.

The Cougars overcame a strong game by Queens forward Lauren Loyek, who had 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Cougar Men

The Mount Royal Cougar men’s basketball team has won five straight, and are looking stronger than ever as they head into the Christmas break.

The Cougars beat the Red Deer Kings both at home and on the road this weekend, winning 81-58 in Red Deer before coming home to again trounce the Kings 89-67.

On Friday, the Cougars had four players score in double figures. They continue to improve on their balanced approach that saw them win their previous three affairs.

After being down 20-16 following the first quarter, the Cougars outscored the opposition 65-38 the rest of the way as they cruised to the win.

Cam Dodd, Steve Trinidad and Awet Abraha each had 11 points, while Trent Offereins had 10. Jared Cornish pulled down 11 rebounds for the Cougars.

The Cougars shot 50 per cent from the floor and held the Kings to an abysmal 33 per cent. The Cougars are 7-1 when they score 80 or more points in a game.

As the two teams hit Kenyon Court on Saturday for the rematch, it became apparent that the only thing to change was the venue.

The Cougars took their winning streak to five games led by familiar faces, as the blue and white took it to the visiting Kings from the opening tip-off.

Steve Trinidad led the Cougars with 18 points, hitting 5-of-7 from downtown while adding six assists.

Jared Cornish had another solid game on the glass for the Cougars, pulling down 10 rebounds and dropping 13 for the Cougars.

Cam Dodd had a solid all-around game for the Cougars, netting 11 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds.

After a close first quarter, the Cougars took over in the second quarter and went into half time leading 47-33. The Cougars stayed tough in the second half, easily securing the ‘W’.

The Cougars shot 50 per cent for the second straight night, including a blistering 58 per cent from behind the arc.

This marks the end of the first half of both the men’s and women’s basketball season. Both teams will return to action on January 14 and 15th when they take on the King’s University and Lakeland College.