The Cottage School Cougars traveled to Al Falah for their final game of the regular season. Despite a lopsided victory back in December, TCS found on any given day if you are not focused, anyone can be beaten. Al Falah brought high intensity and a “nothing to lose” mentality to the court. They do not play in a league so to them this was a playoff game; to revenge a bitter loss in their final home game of the year. Credit that energy and passionate effort, Al Falah earned it winning 42-28.
The Cougars began the contest having a hard time scoring. That intense Al Falah defense was giving the squad some fits, but TCS still managed to end the period ahead 10-8. It was the next two frames where Cottage lost the game. For the first time all year they were shut out in a quarter and only scored seven points in period three. Al Falah went on a 24-7 run for a 32-17 edge heading into the final frame. Both teams played even in the fourth stanza so there was no such comeback for the road team as Al Falah finished with the 43-28 victory. Coach Briggs spoke after the contest; “There were some variables that made it tough for our team to play the same way we have over the seven game win streak, but we could have overcome those. We have been together for long enough that executing our offense and protecting the ball was still very possible, despite any of the obstacles we had to face tonight. All the credit goes to the Al Falah kids. They were so hungry for that win and if I were their coach, I would be over the moon for them. I even found myself clapping for them throughout the final period because of how well they were playing. We have two days to regroup and plan to start the 2020 AAC playoffs like we have performed these final two weeks of the season.”
The Cougars will play Monday (2/10) at Atlanta Area School for the Deaf versus either the Howard Hawks or Mill Springs Mustangs. They will play a play-in game this Friday for the #4 seed. What we do know is the game will be played at 4:00PM Monday.
Proud Cougar Coaches,
Suroy and Richie
