The Cooperative Jaguars JV boys basketball team won a lopsided match against the Cambridge Knights on Thursday. The Jaguars' strong defense kept the Knights' scoring attempts to a minimum in the first quarter as the Jaguars pulled ahead 8-1. The Jaguars did a great job of taking their time and waiting for scoring opportunities, while the Knights tried many times to force the ball into the hoop. The cheering section was very loud and enthusiastic, exploding every time a basket was scored.
The second quarter started with an acrobatic Jaguar basket, and it was visible that both teams were playing more intensely. The Knights brought the ball up the court again and again, but they seemed to be missing every shot they took. The Jaguars, in contrast, took fewer shots but scored more points as they took advantage of almost every good opportunity. The score grew more and more lopsided until it stood at 18-2 at the halftime buzzer.
Turnovers were a problem in the third quarter as both teams continually lost control of the ball. The Knights seized the opportunity on one of these turnovers, stealing the ball and scoring a layup. Another Cambridge basket brought the score to 18-6. The Jaguars then took control once again, scoring 3 more baskets before the end of the third quarter, which ended with a score of 25-8.
The fourth quarter started off quickly with each team scoring baskets. After two Cambridge free throws, the score reached 27-12. The score stayed at 27-12 for about 6 minutes as both teams continually missed baskets and turned the ball over. The Jaguars scored 2 more points with 25 seconds left in the game, and as the final buzzer sounded, they rushed to the side of the court, picked up the water cooler, and dumped its contents on their coach's head, celebrating their 29-12 championship victory.
Eagles Defeat Knights and Win First Place, 22-14
By Jesse Mann, SCCLC
The Junior Varsity girls basketball season concluded today in what one spectator called "the most exciting JV girls basketball game of the entire season." In an electric atmosphere full of screaming fans and pounding drums, the Eagles managed to overcome the Knights and finish with an eight point lead 22 – 14. The competition followed the pattern of earlier games, with low shooting accuracy and an abundance of fouls on both sides. After enjoying a two point lead in the first quarter, Cambridge fell four points behind after the Eagles late in the first half. An Eagle technical foul then provided the Knights with six free throw opportunities, giving Cambridge a good chance to tie the score. All six shots missed the mark, characterizing the poor free throw accuracy that plagued both teams. The Eagles managed to hold on to their slim lead throughout a second half full of fouls, turnovers, and timeouts. A final scoring streak in the dying seconds awarded the Eagles an eight point lead over Cambridge to claim the trophy.
