Cougars heading for Arco (Power Balance Pavillion)

Tonight at Galt High School the Sacramento Waldorf Waves found out exactly why the Capital Christian Boys are the #1 ranked team in their division.  The Cougars came out sparking and shocked the Waves with an 11-0 run in just 2.23 minutes of basketball.  

The Cougars were in their element and played their own style of exciting, entertaining basketball. The talented guard play of trio, Justice Shelton-Mosely, Tanner Nissen and Uchenna (UC) Irogebu completely shut down the State's leading scorer.

Chris Edmisten-Schwartz usually scores around 35 points a game but clearly that is not against teams of the caliber of the Cougars. Schwartz struggled against the incessant harrassment of the Cougars, made poor shot selections and failed to find the bottom of the basket on 26 of 34 shots on the night. He usually shoots 45% from beyond the arc but tonight was 0 of 6 attempts.

Meanwhile, the Cougar scorers Matt Donlan, Trey Belton and D.J. Wilson were happily doing what they do best - keeping the scoreboard ticking over on a variety of shots including deep 3s from beyond the arc, mid range jumpers, athletic layups, power dunks and a very sweet alley oop that kept the large crowd of Cougar fans more than happy.

Point guard Tyler Jennings was in full control as he set up plays and assisted the scorers as well as getting in on the action himself, contributing 8 points to the scoreboard. The Waves had no match for the variety of scorers among the cougars, nor did they have a body who could out muscle Sophomore power Nifae Lealao who happily added 12 points on the night.

By half time the outcome was never really in doubt as the Cougars led 37-19. The Cougars came out determined to press home their advantage in the third and back to back dunks from Donlan and Belton made sure that the Waves would not be making a comeback.  

Coach Battenberg was able to ease up on the pressure and give his bench some playing time.  It is a testament to the depth of the Cougars that there was no drop off in their pressure, scoring or defence when Battenberg rested his starters.  This depth off the bench is sure to be a key to winning the coveted Section Title.

The Cougars have already secured a spot in the Nor Cal Playoffs which start Wednesday March 7th. They will know on Sunday if they have achieved their goal of a home final for the first round of Nor Cals. In the meantime, they have some unfinished business in the Section Title game on Friday at 5:30 at Arco Arena. I know I'm supposed to call it "Power Balance Pavillion" but it will always be Arco to me - and to the loyal, blue Cougar fans who started the "Arco, Arco, Arco" chant in the final minute of the game.  

The Cougars made it to the semi finals two years ago but failed to take the final step to Arco and of course last year they were ousted in the second round, after the siren, by Summerville in a loss that is still a bitter pill for the Cougars to swallow.  The Cougars will face either #2 seed Central Catholic or #3 seed Ripon Christian and whoever they play, that game is sure to be far more of a challenge than that offered by Sac Waldorf. Go Cougars!