It's not how you start the race, but how you finish. Just ask the Capital Christian High School Cougars boys basketball team as they started slow against Marysville High School in their Golden Empire league opener but finished at a frantic pace, holding off the Indians Tuesday 56-48. 

In what started as a back-and-forth fight that saw Marysville take a 13-11 lead after one quarter, the game switched sides with Capital Christian jumping ahead 27-25 at the half. 

After halftime, the Cougars sprinted for the finish line. Both senior forward Brian Simmons and junior forward Matt Donlan led the Cougars in scoring  with 17 points each.

They also helped turn up the tempo and after the third quarter it was Capital Christian leading by 12 and eventually finished winning by eight.

Cougars head coach Phil Oates attributed his team’s strength Tuesday to its size and the play of his big men down low. 

“It was a physical game, which comes a little as a surprise," Oates said. “[Mark Wright, Marysville’s head coach and I] talked to each other afterward and asked, ‘Where did that come from?’"

Despite the win, Oates said that his team must maintain focus to continue to be successful in league play.  

“This is as tough as this league has ever been, and if you don't show up for all of your games, you’re gonna go home with a loss."

For now the Cougars’ win brings the team’s overall record to 10-6 and 1-0 in the Golden Empire League.