B Team:
The North 8th grade B team opened its season with a hard-fought and encouraging performance against Grapevine, showing resilience and promise despite a narrow 18–17 loss.
North came out strong in the first quarter, setting the tone with solid defense and efficient offense to jump out to a 7–3 lead. That momentum carried into the second quarter, as the Cougars continued to control the pace of the game and extended their advantage, heading into halftime with a 12–6 lead.
The third quarter brought a shift in momentum, as Grapevine responded with a strong run of their own. The Ponies outscored North 9–0 in the period, briefly putting the Cougars behind 15–12. Despite the challenge, North stayed composed and never lost confidence.
In the fourth quarter, North showed tremendous grit, battling back and putting themselves in position to win the game. The Cougars had opportunities down the stretch and played with heart until the final buzzer, ultimately falling just short by a single point.
North was led offensively by Christian Bennet, who scored 8 points, while Noah Mathew added 5 points. Both players provided key contributions that kept the Cougars competitive throughout the game.
While the final score didn’t go North’s way, the game highlighted the team’s effort, competitiveness, and potential. The season opener provided valuable experience, and with the determination shown in this game, the Cougars are poised for growth and success as the season continues.

A TEAM:
The North 8th grade boys basketball team put together a strong all-around performance in a 44–18 victory over Grapevine, pulling away early and never looking back.
The game opened with a brief stretch of back-and-forth action, as both teams traded baskets in the first quarter. North was able to create some separation late in the period, closing the quarter on a run to take a 15–8 lead.
The second quarter proved to be the turning point of the game. North’s defense tightened, limiting Grapevine to just three points while the offense stayed aggressive. North poured in 15 points during the quarter, extending their advantage and heading into halftime with a commanding 19-point lead.
North continued to build on that momentum in the second half, controlling the tempo and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. Strong defensive pressure and balanced scoring allowed North to steadily widen the gap throughout the third and fourth quarters, ultimately sealing the 44–18 win.
Mason Hotle led the way offensively for North, finishing with 10 points. Eli Smith followed closely behind with 9 points, contributing to a balanced team effort that kept Grapevine on its heels throughout the game.

C Team:
The North 8th grade C Team delivered a strong performance from start to finish, earning a convincing 29–7 victory over the Ponies with great energy on both ends of the floor.
North set the tone early, coming out aggressive in the first quarter and jumping out to an 8–2 lead. The Cougars continued to play solid team basketball in the second quarter, building on their advantage and heading into halftime with a 15–5 lead.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point, as North took full control of the game. Strong defense and disciplined offense allowed the Cougars to outscore the Ponies 12–2 in the period, extending the lead to 27–7 heading into the fourth quarter.
North maintained their focus in the final quarter and closed out the game to secure the 29–7 win. The Cougars’ defensive effort was a highlight throughout, limiting scoring opportunities and controlling the tempo.
Jeter Brito led North with 8 points, while Gautham Muresh and Austin Shelby each added 5 points. The balanced scoring and team-first approach helped fuel an impressive all-around performance for the Cougars.