In a move that’ll surprise absolutely NOBODY…

[kiddman32]

I am at Campo for the tripleheader vs. the Cougs’ first league opponent, the Northgate Broncos.

The varisty Cougs are 8-4, and the varsity Broncos are 4-9…. Sounds like a mismatch on the surface, but the Broncs have also played a tough slate and have been competitive in almost all their games…. Can’t take these guys lightly.

More on that later…. Right now, the freshmen are taking the floor.

 

[kiddman32]

28-14 Cougs midway thru the 2nd q.

 

[kiddman32]

32-19 Cougs frosh at the half.

 

[kiddman32]

Broncos with a strong run in the 3rd, now it’s 38-35 Cougs, 2:31 left in the 3rd.

 

[kiddman32]

Tied at 40 after 3…. Broncos half-court trap has caused a lot of trouble for the Cougs.

 

[kiddman32]

Northgate takes a thriller, 56-55…

Cougs were down by one with 22 seconds to go, they scored on a runout with 14 seconds to go, but Northgate returned the favor with under 4 seconds left to take the lead, then stole the inbounds pass.

On to the JV’s…

 

[kiddman32]

Cougs lead 20-15 after 1, the last score being a beyond half-court buzzer beater by the Cougs…

 

[kiddman32]

31-23 Cougs at the half.

 

[kiddman32]

Okay, here’s a strange one…. Northgate forfeits the JV game at the half, no specifics on why, other than there was some sort of discipline issue.

 

[kiddman32]

Varsity game to start in 27 minutes.

 

[kiddman32]

We’re about ready to go here…

Looks like Tyler Bergren, starting point guard, is back after a couple weeks off due to injury…

No idea whether he’ll start tonight, or even play…. But he’s moving fluidly in warmups…

 

[kiddman32]

Well, he’s not starting…. My guess is that he will play, but I’m just an idjit with a keyboard…

 

[kiddman32]

We’re ready to rrrrrrumble….

 

[kiddman32]

Northgate opens with a 3…

Cougs turn it over, I think 3 seconds.

NG with another 3…. 6-0.

Naffziger hits a Coug 3! 6-3.

Driving score for NG…. 8-3. 6:26 left 1st.

Robeson goes baseline for 2…. 8-5.

Mansour drives and scores…. 8-7.

LONG Northgate 3…. 11-7.

Yet another long NG 3…. 14-7.

Naffziger hits a long 2…. 14-9, 3:30 left 1st.

NG canNOT miss!! another 3-bomb…. 17-9, time out, 3:20 left.

 

[kiddman32]

Naffziger with a spin moves and elbow J…. 17-11, NG travels…. 2:50 left.

Naffziger step-back 2…. 17-13.

Northgate dribble off foot, backcourt, Cougs ball, 1:48 left 1st.

 

[kiddman32]

Robeson, nice driving score…. 17-15.

Yet another long-ass 3 for Nortthgate! But Naffziger nails a long 3 of his own…. 20-18 Northgate.

Cougs with a stop, trying for last shot…

Illegal screen, NG ball, 3.7 left.

Near-steal of the inbounds pass, out of bounds…. but.Nortthgate hits a BOMB from 50 feet at the buzzer! 23-18 Nortthgate after 1 quarter.

 

[kiddman32]

Nortthgate opens the 2nd with a turnaround J…. and 1…. also good. 26-18.

Breznikar scores just ahead of the shot clock…. 26-20.


Northgate shows they’re human, actually misses one…. Robeson fouled, 2 shots…. Got one. 26-21.

yet ANOTHER long 3 for Nortthgate, O’Reilly hits a short J…. 29-23, now 31-23 after a rare Northgate 2…

Mansour scores inside, 31-25…. 5:36 left in the half.

 

[kiddman32]

I think it’s #4 who’s hitting most of the long bombs for Northgate…. Dude needs to chill out.

ANOTHER 3 ball for Northgate, #11 this time…. Robeson also with a 3…. 34-28…

Hey,, they misses 2 in a row…. O’Reilly scores inside, 34-30.

NG #20 hits a short J. 36-30.

Robeson hits a hook…. 36-32.

Naffziger nails a corner 3!! 36-35, NG still leading…

1:56 left in the half.

 

[kiddman32]

Moving screen on NG…

Robeson hook in and out…

Foul, NG at the line for 2…. both missed…

Pass from Robeson in to Sanguinetti, led him to much…

Cougs with a stop, 41 seconds..


Robeson 3 bounces out…

NG ball, 10 seconds in the hafl…. Rebound by Robeson, long pass to Breznikar, shot falls…. But gets it off just too late…. 36-35 Broncos, one helluva game so far!

 

[kiddman32]

Robeson drives to the bucket, fouled, FT’s both good, Cougs get their first lead of the game!

STEAL by Mansour, drives, throws it down!! Cougs by 3…. 39-36.

NG driving score…. 39-38. 5:52 left 3rd.

Another score for NG, a rare Cougs blown defensive assignment…. 40-39 Northgate.

Power drive over Mansour, NG leads 42-39.

Rebound by the Cougs, outlet to Breznikar for a score…. 42-41 Northgate, 3:53 left 3rd.

 

[kiddman32]

NG with a corner 3…. 45-41.

O’Reilly answers with a 3 of his own…. 45-44.

NG hits yet another 3…. 48-44.

and so does O’Reilly!!!! 48-47.

1:48 left 3rd…

NG #22 fouled on a shot…. FT’s both good. 50-47.

Mansour drives, fouled, 2 shots…. FT’s both good, 50-49 NG.

NG with a corner 3, no good…

Cougs going for last shot, but…. Nope. 50-49 Northgate after 3 quarters of action-packed hoops!

 

[kiddman32]

Cougs ball to start, quick pass to Mansour, drives baseline, fouled, 2 shots…. Both go, 51-50 Cougs.

NG #5 fouled, 2 shots…. neither falls, Cougs still lead 51-50. 7:04 left.

Robeson hook rolls out…. NG rebound.

2 NG 3 tries, no go…. Cougs can’t take advantage…

NG calls time, 6:01 left.

 

[kiddman32]

NG midrage J score, 52-51 NG.

Robeson, sweet move to score a layup.. 53-52.

Cougs rebound a niss…

Mansour with a fine move, stretching layup…. 55-52 Cougs.

But a nice pass sets up an easy score for NG’s #21, he’s fouled…. FT ties it at 55.

Mansour 3 bounces out, NG board…

NG 3 bounces out, too…. COugs board.

3 close-range tries fail for the Cougs, NG ball. 3:46 left, 55-all.

Airball by NG, Cougs ball…. 3:20 left.

NG steal…they call time out. exactly 3 minutes left, shooting percentages finally falling towards normal…. 55-55.

 

[kiddman32]

Naffziger with his 4th foul…

Steal by Mansour, and he’s fouled! COugs ball, still no bonus…. Mansour hits an inside hook shot… 57-55 Cougs.

O’Reilly rebounds a NG miss…

Time out Cougs, 1:22 left…. Gonna hafta ice down my fingers after this one…. 57-55 Cougs, with ball after the time out.

 

[kiddman32]

Robeson drives the lane, he’s fouled… and he hits the righty hook!! FT is good…. 60-55.

STEAL!!! Cougs try to burn clock, get some 25 seconds off, but lose it without a shot…

LONG NG 3 barely grazes iron, Cougs rebound! Foul, Naffzigerat the line, 1 and 1…. Front end is money…. Bonus also…. 62-55, 17 seconds left…. Cougs have this just about wrapped up…

 

[kiddman32]

Foul, 1 of 2 FT’s go, but O’Reilly rebounds the 2nd and is fouled…. Front end good, bonus also…. 64-56…. NG 3 try, no go…. Robeson rebound, he’s fouled with 1.3 seconds…. No-pressure FT’s, both good…. Annnd, that’s the ball game!! Cougs draw away late to win 66-56!