Explosive 4th quarter lifts Carroll over Eastern
By Greg Hoffman Contributing sportswriter

The Cougars (3-5) put together back-to-back wins with a 62-43 victory at home Saturday night against Eastern (1-8).

Like the two previous games, Carroll used an inside game to take control of the contest early. Adam Tussinger and Jacob Craig made life difficult for Eastern all night. Tussinger went 8 of 10 from the field in the first half and had 17 points. Craig took over in the final period with 5 of 5 shooting and 12 second half points.

Although the Cougars never trailed the Comets, Eastern did tie the game twice in the first period. Carroll took the lead for good on an Adam Spesard fielder. After leading by only 2 at 14-12 at the end of the first period, Carroll built an 11 point, 31-20, advantage in the second quarter. Despite the double digit lead, the Cougars could not shake the visitors as back-to-back treys brought the Comets to within 5 at 31-26 at half-time.

Eastern gave Carroll all kinds of chances to put them away in the third period, but the Cougars didn't bite. The Comets connected on only 3 of 15 attempts from the field while the Cougars started turning the ball over. The two teams scored 9 points each in the quarter and Carroll still maintained its 5 point lead at 40-35.

Poor shooting continued to plague Eastern in the fourth quarter. But this time the Cougars took advantage. Following a 19-3 run the Cougars put the visitors away for good and claimed the win.

Tussinger led all scorers with a career high 21 points. Craig had his third straight doubledouble with 18 points and a career high 15 rebounds. The Cougar bench outscored Eastern 13-0 with Adam Spesard leading the way with 9 points.

Carroll won the board battle 40-25. Along with Craig, Tussinger had 7, Brad Benson 6 and Spesard 5 rebounds. Benson handed out 5 assists, Kevin Ives 4 and Drew Yoder 3. The Cougars shot 58% from the field on 26 of 45 shooting, while holding the Comets to 14 of 51, 28%, from the field. The Cougars only hit 50% of their free throw attempts, 10 of 20.

Friday the Cougars travel to Twin Lakes (7-3) for a tough match-up. The Indians lead the series 21-11 and have won the last three meetings. Winamac will be at Carroll Saturday night. The Cougars hold a one game advantage in that series, 23-22, and have won the last four contests.

JV improves to 6-2

Six of seven free throw shooting in the final quarter helped the Cougars hold off the Eastern Comets 40-33.

A Drake Harper two-pointer gave Carroll the initial lead at 2-0, but Eastern quickly went up 4-2 and held leads of 9-6 after one and 17-16 at the half.

With Carroll down 21-18 early in the third period, treys by Drew Yoder and Kyle Geheb and a pair of fielders by Primmer Zook gave the Cougars a 10-2 run and the lead at 28-23 after three quarters.

Zook led all scorers with 12 points. Geheb added 11 points.