Capital Christian Cougars Blow by the Tulelake Honkers

The Capital Christian Boys Basketball team showed the visitors from Tulelake exactly why they are Section Champions in the tough Sac Joaquin Section and the No. 3 seed in the Nor Cal Championships beating the Honkers 79-27 on Wednesday night at CCHS.

The Cougars looked to have some residual nerves after and played the Honkers fairly evenly through the first quarter to be 16-14 up after 8 minutes.  Coach Battenberg trialed a new starting lineup for the game with mixed results. Tulelake were able to hit 3 big threes during the first quarter as the Cougars failed to find their defensive rhythm.

I don't know what Coach Battenburg said to the team at the first break but they came out inspired after the break and outscored their guests 30 - 0 in the next 8 minutes. Freshman Trey Belton was a beast on the offensive boards, scoring 11 points in this time while Matt Donlan added 7.

Tulelake appeared bewildered by the dominance of the Cougars and were rarely able to even get a shot off as the defence of the Cougars guards stifled them. Tyler Jennings, Tanner Nissen and Justice Shelton-Mosely all had steals and Tulelake had no answer for the Capital Christian offensive unleashed upon them.  

It was 46-14 at the long break and after halftime there was no respite from the rampaging Cougars. Senior Matt Donlan had a steal and a breakaway dunk and followed with another strong dunk on a dish from Belton. Belton added another 4 points as did Nifae Lealao.  Coach Battenberg sat his starters midway through the third quarter and they were not called on to return to the game as the bench finished off the Honkers.

Marcelas Perry added 8 and Tanner Nissen added 6 points in the third including a repeat of his 3rd quarter buzzer beater 3 from the Section Final.  The Cougars outscored the bewildered Honkers 26 -7 in the third quarter. Although the officials were very free with their foul calls on the Cougars, giving the Honkers many opportunities to score at the free throw line, it was not enough to make much difference to the scoreline.

The Honkers failed to score from the field from the end of the first quarter until the dying seconds of the game. Of the Honkers 27 points, 12 came from free throws.

Belton 19, Lealao 12, Donlan 11, Perry & Aibuedefe 8 each, Wilson & Nissen 6 each, Ware 4, Garza 3 and Irogebu 2.

The Cougars have earned a second home final for the Nor Cal Playoffs and will host No. 6 seed Branson (Marin County) on Saturday night at 7pm.

CIF charge $9 Adults and $5 Seniors and students with ID for entry to playoff games.