The Copper Basin Cougars squared off with the Polk County Wildcats Thursday, December 3. The teams battled back and forth, but the Wildcats managed to squeak by with a 55-52 win.
The Cougars started off hot in the first quarter as Logan Burkett muscled in two, two-point buckets for four points and a nasty block. Joe Boggs and Radford Cheek worked the paint as well and churned out a two-point basket each for an eight-point first quarter. Polk County scored eight points as well to head into the second quarter tied 8-8.
Timothy Jabaley got rolling in the second quarter, scoring five points on a three-point basket and a two-point bucket down low on a put back. Evan Bobo drained a long-range three and Timothy Fair acrobatted his way in the paint for two, two-point baskets for a 12-point second quarter. Polk County was able to score 19 points in the second as they led 27-20 at halftime.
Fair heated up in the third, scoring seven points on a three ball and two, two-point baskets. Bobo knocked in a three ball, followed by a two point bucket from Burkett and Cheek to net a total of 14 points in the third quarter. Polk County scored 15 points to lead 42-34 to start the fourth.
Basin made a run in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Wildcats 18-13. Burkett led the Cougars with seven points coming off a three-point bucket and two, two-point baskets. Fair closely followed with two, three-point baskets, and Jabaley fought his way to the free throw line, where he converted two free throws. Boggs scored two points on a two-point bucket and Cheek converted a free throw to cap an 18-point fourth quarter.
Polk County was able to hold off the Cougars’ punch to win 55-52.
CB 08 12 14 18 - 55
PC 08 19 15 13 - 52
Cougars summary:
Points: Fair 17, Burkett 13, Jabaley 7, Bobo 6, Cheek 5, Boggs 4.
Free throws: Jabaley 2-2, Cheek 1-2, Boggs 0-2.