It was a race to the finish line.
The Canadiens hosted Crowder on Tuesday night for their first game of 2023, where the Demons used defense and a second-half push to claim a 40-35 win.
Johnathan Lizik kicked things off for the Demons early, with Sevryn Mills adding a steal and a score to propel Crowder into the lead. TJ Cook responded with a bucket for the Cougars, but Lizik responded right away.
Cook and Cam Harris added four quick points from the Canadian, but a bucket from Cooper Allison put Crowder ahead 8-6 after the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Mills drained a three to get Crowder moving again. But the Cougars fought back with a 7-0 run behind points from Harris, Brandon Ybanez and Cook on their way to a 13-11 halftime lead.
The two teams traded scores on the other side of the locker room break, with neither willing to back down. At the end of the third quarter, it would be the Demons who would use a late run to take a 30-22 lead in the final period.
Traesten Craven got a quick, scored steal to open the fourth, but the Cougars responded with buckets from Cook and Gabe Hubbard to cut the Demon’s lead to six with five minutes left.
Mills responded with a driving score, followed by a robbery and a Daniel Ellis score. After a defensive position from both teams, Ybanez scored on a reverse layup for the Cougars in the final two minutes of the game, followed by a score in the paint for Harris to cut the deficit to six with 44.7 seconds left. player.
Mills added another driving score, but Cook responded with his own basket. The Canadian was forced to foul with seconds remaining as Mills sank the following free throws to seal the Demons victory.
Mills led the way for the Demons with 22 points, followed by Lizik and Allison with eight points each, and Craven with a bucket.
Cook led the Canadiens with 14 points, followed by Ybanez with 10 points, Harris with five points, Hubbard with four points and Kaden Elza with two points.
Next, the two teams will travel to take on the competition at the Weleetka tournament starting on Thursday. The Cougars open against Mason at 2 p.m., while the Demons take on host Weleetka at 4:40 p.m.
Contact Derek Hatridge at dhatridge@mclaesternews.com.
“Gamer. Introvert. Problem solver. Creator. Thinker. Lifelong food evangelist. Alcohol advocate.”