Cougars split weekend games
By Greg Hoffman Contributing sportswriter

Trip to the charity stripe Carroll's Justin Brown earns a trip to the foul line after being hacked on the arm by a Twin Lakes player Friday night. The Cougars lost to the host Indians, 64-44. Bill Stauffer photo

Carroll (4-6) split in action over the weekend, losing at Twin Lakes (8-4) Friday night, 64-44, and beating Winamac (2-9) at home Saturday 69-42.

The Cougars have had trouble with quicker teams all year and Friday was no different. Twin Lakes' quickness took advantage of Carroll's poor passing game, forcing the Cougars into 16 turnovers in the first half. Twin Lakes never trailed in the game and jumped out to a 15-5 lead and held a 17-11 advantage after one. The hosts continued their ball pressure in the second quarter and went on a 10-0 run and by halftime were up 38-18.

The Cougars could never get back in the game. Twin Lakes' biggest lead was 25 points, 63- 38, midway in the final period, but the two teams played even on the scoreboard with 26 points each in the second half.

The Cougars did not shoot well. They only connected on one of ten attempts from behind the arch and 17 of 50 overall. Twin Lakes was 6 of 14 and 27 of 55. Adam Tussinger was the only Cougar in double figures with 13 points. Carson Spesard and Jacob Craig had 9 points each.

Saturday night, Carroll could not put Winamac away early. The Cougars took the early lead at 9-4, but a 7 to 1 run gave the Warriors their only lead at 11-10. Kevin Ives hit a trey that gave the Cougars the lead back for good at 13-11 after one. By half-time, they had expanded the lead to 9 at 32-23. The Cougars outscored the Warriors 21 to 4 in the third quarter and held a 53-27 lead at the stop.

Carroll's bench came to play, scoring 41 points to only 19 for Winamac. Ives and Spesard, both off the bench, led all scorers with 13 points each. Craig had another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Spesard added 9 rebounds as Carroll won the board battle 42-22.

From the field, Carroll was 26 of 55, .473%, while holding Winamac to 17 of 44, .396%.

The Cougars will be on the road this weekend. They will be at Tri Central Friday night for a Hoosier Heartland Conference match-up. TC leads the series 28-19. On Saturday night, they are at Pioneer with Carroll holding the series edge, 28-16.

JV wins two

The young Cougars added a pair of wins to their season record for an impressive 8-2 mark. Twin Lakes fell to the Cougars 39-33 on Friday and Winamac fell on Saturday, 45- 36.

Against Twin Lakes, Carroll opened up a 13-4 lead in the first half before Twin Lakes came alive and went on a 13-0 run to go up 17-13. In the third quarter, the Cougars tied the game at 19 and 21 points before a fielder by Riley Johnson put the Cougars up for good at 23-21. They held TL at bay in the fourth for the win.

Jordan Brumbaugh led all scorers with 13 points, Kyle Geheb had a good outing with 12 points. Johnson and Drew Yoder had 7 rebounds each and Geheb handed out 3 assists.

Saturday night at CHS, the Cougars never trailed. They led 18-7 after one, 27-15 at halftime, and 31-18 and the end of three. Brumbaugh led the way with 9 points. Johnson had 8 and Primmer Zook 6.