The 8th Grade Cougars tipped off their return from winter break with their first away game of the season against the Heritage Broncos—and they didn’t miss a beat. All three teams came out sharp and confident, making an immediate statement with a clean sweep on the road.
The B Team set the tone early, coming out locked in defensively from the opening tip. They jumped out to a commanding 12–3 halftime lead and never looked back. The team effort was outstanding. Natalie Campos was everywhere on the court, leading the way with an incredible 11 steals and 2 assists. Anna Sarmiento knocked down a clutch three-pointer in the third quarter that energized the team and kept the momentum rolling.
There were two Players of the Game for the B Team. Harper Johnson dominated the left side of the court, fearlessly attacking the basket and making things happen. She finished with 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals. Angelica Bennett led all scorers with 9 points and 8 rebounds, anchoring the offense. The Cougars cruised to an impressive 30–7 victory.
Next up, the A Team took the floor ready to play and wasted no time asserting control. North dominated offensively, heading into halftime with a 27–7 lead. With the large advantage, North was unable to press in the second half but continued to chip away by running their offense and playing unselfishly. The Cougars secured a 42–24 win and remained undefeated on the season.
Safirah Burgos had a great game, knocking down two three-pointers in the first half and finishing with 7 points, 1 rebound, and 2 steals. Brylee Felix controlled the game with strong passes, lockdown defense, and 5 points. Emmy Anene contributed across the board with 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 rebound, while Emmy and Bryce Wilson each added 4 points.
Players of the Game honors went to Mila Obidzinski and Annabelle Ross. Mila was unstoppable defensively, finishing with 4 points and 8 steals. Annabelle Ross led the way with a dominant performance, posting 10 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals, and 1 assist.
Closing out the night, the C Team completed the sweep in style. North overwhelmed Heritage with strong defense and ran away with an 18–7 victory. Point guard Fatima Coria once again made her presence known, having a hand in nearly every play and leading the team with 6 points. Kendall Dunkelberger followed with 4 points, showing great stamina and hustle throughout the game. Mirabelle Sagal’s shots began to fall in the fourth quarter, adding 4 points to widen the margin. Meanwhile, Karis Wilkins focused on running the motion offense correctly, consistently maintaining strong defensive positioning and pulling down 5 rebounds.
Players of the Game went to Fatima Coria and Kendall Dunkelberger, whose nonstop defense fueled the offense all night long.
What an incredible season so far! The overall record for all three teams is 8–1, and we couldn’t be prouder of these Cougars! ??????
Cougars Take 2 of 3 in Gritty Night Against the Broncos
North traveled in their first away game of the season and the night did not disappoint! With a hard fought and an eventual loss in B team’s double overtime, the Cougars walked away with a 2-1 win over the Broncos.
A TEAM
The Cougars got off to a slow start in the first half, heading into halftime with a narrow 17–13 lead over Heritage. Momentum shifted in the third quarter when North broke away, outscoring the Broncos 15–5. The Cougars picked up the pace, maintained control for the remainder of the game, and secured a 43–26 victory at the final buzzer.
Shoutout to Aspen Bingham for contributing 9 points on offense and making a strong impact on the defensive end. Samira Augustine shot an impressive 75% from the free-throw line and remained a steady force on both offense and defense. Nithya Boppana came off the bench early and made an immediate impact, showcasing her court awareness and attacking mindset on offense. Vocal leader Lilly Jarmon kept her teammates locked in, directing the defense and creating second- and third-chance offensive opportunities.
Players of the Game honors go to guard Sarah Kate Baade, the team’s leading scorer with 11 points, who delivered her best all-around performance of the season on both ends of the floor, and post player Suin Cho, who continues to be one of the most coachable players on the court. Cho added 6 points in the paint while collecting numerous steals and rebounds for the Cougars.
B TEAM
In the most emotional and hard-fought battle of the season, the Cougars came up just short in a double-overtime thriller that ended in sudden death. Despite the 23–21 loss to the Broncos, the heart, hustle, and determination shown by the Cougars were nothing short of impressive.
Shoutout to post Aanika Sankar for securing multiple backside rebounds and keeping possessions alive on offense. Sofie Gallardo contributed 4 points while tallying countless steals and playing relentless defense. Breigh Holguin led the Cougars in scoring with 9 points, highlighted by a clutch three-pointer in the third quarter.
Player of the Game honors go to post Kaylan Brown, who scored back-to-back baskets in the third quarter and battled on both ends of the floor, creating multiple scoring opportunities for North through her effort and physical play.
C TEAM
The entire C Team roster came out in full force from tip-off to the final buzzer, earning an impressive 35–12 victory.
Ellie Zonozy continued to be a defensive force for the Cougars while adding 4 points on offense. Makenna Cline embraced a new role, transitioning from post to guard, and knocked down a deep three-pointer in the first quarter. Karrisa Hansen tied for the team high with 8 points, setting the tempo for North with her speed in transition.
Player of the Game honors go to Keira Muliyil, who also tied for the game-high 8 points. Muliyil relentlessl... Click here to read full article
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