2/03/2022: The Cottage School Cougars continue to add pages to the Atlanta Athletic Conference record books. TCS not only holds the most titles by a school in league history with eight but also just became the first school to win a three-peat in boys or girls’ varsity basketball (AAC est. 1989). They have also gone undefeated in three straight AAC seasons. Their last loss in the AAC was in the championship game back in 2019, completing a 21-0 run over three seasons. Proving their defense may be the best in school history, the Cougars used this effort in combination of a high scoring night to capture the 2022 AAC championship with a 68-37 victory.
Before the game began TCS wanted to honor a Cougar legend, A.J. Farrar for scoring over 1,000 points in his three years here before leaving his senior year to Norcross High School. A.J. played four years of college basketball and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Alabama State University. He will be headed to Australia to play basketball overseas later in March for a team in the NBL 1 division. Farrar led the Cougars to two undefeated championship seasons from 2012-2013. One of the pictures below is of his family and four of his Cougar teammates proving our Cougars For Life philosophy here at TCS. Aidan Briggs presented the 1,000-point ball because he and A.J. are close and Aidan is the latest to score over 1,000 points.
To the game:
It was not until the final minute of the second quarter before the Panthers of AASD scored their first basket. The Cougars completely shut down the paint and did not let AASD run, like they want to. Matter of fact, the Panthers only gathered two fast break opportunities the entire game. With every pass, TCS smothered AASD and went ahead 22-0 over most of two frames. By halftime Cottage held a 28-4 lead.
The third period provided the opposite as both teams got hot and fans saw 50 points between the two teams. The combination of Alex Hogg and Aidan Briggs were too much for the Panthers (more on them in the game notes) as they helped their team outscore AASD 29-21 in the third stanza. The fourth frame was about even, and The Cottage School went on to make history with their 68-37 championship win! It was their highest scoring championship win in school history.
The Cougars will travel to Riverdale to take on the GISA champions, Solid Rock Academy tomorrow. It will be their final regular season game. The GISA playoffs begin next Wednesday (2/9) and Friday (2/11). #3 seed TCS will take on the #2 seed Furtah Preparatory School at 5:00 PM on Wednesday. The GISA Region 5AA playoffs will be held here at The Cougar Center.
Game Notes:
Alex Hogg “messed around and got a triple-double” (quoting Ice Cube from It Was a Good Day). It was a career record-setting night earning MVP of the tournament. Hogg finished with a career high in points (24) and blocked shots (12). He broke his own school record of blocks (10) in a game; set last season. He added 15 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal.
Aidan Briggs also had an outstanding game, almost producing a triple-double of his own. Coming off his 27-point effort in the semi’s, Briggs now has 9 double-doubles on the season. He recorded 18 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, 4 blocks, and a charge.
Braden Kramer had a career high in points with 15. He connected on three from downtown, had 3 assists, and 2 steals.
Anthony Kovach added 7 points, 3 assists, 2 steals, and a blocked shot.
Matthew Placide scored a basket, had 2 assists, and blocked 3 shots.
The Cougars broke a school record for most blocks in a single game with 22! Added to the pics below are of the Lady Cougars. They also won back-to-back AAC titles, defeating Howard before the boy’s win. Alyssa Briggs won MVP pulling down an incredible 24 rebounds while being shorter than most any other girl on the court. Coaches Suroy Henderson, Richie Briggs, Lyle Cutchin, and Lauren Soares could not be more proud and show it below.
