Cougar boys basketball drops two in tough week

The Cougar boys basketball team faced a challenging week with two tough losses in conference play, falling to both Centaurus High School and Mead High School in home matchups.

Niwot struggled offensively in a 55-22 loss to the Centaurus Warriors on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The Warriors' balanced scoring and suffocating defense kept the Cougars at bay throughout the game, with Centaurus outsourcing Niwot in all four quarters.

After a competitive first quarter, the Cougars trailed by just one point, 6-5, but the offense stalled as Centaurus steadily extended its lead. Niwot managed only five points in the second quarter, bringing the halftime score to 16-10 in favor of the Warriors.

Centaurus exploded in the third quarter, outscoring the Cougars 25-4. Niwot added eight points in the final period, but the deficit proved insurmountable. The Cougars' offensive struggles were evident as they shot just 19% from the field and 15% from three-point range.

Seniors Archer Buckbee and Rohit Das each scored five points for Niwot. Despite some defensive effort, the Cougars struggled with turnovers and missed opportunities throughout the game.

Later in the week, on Friday, Jan. 24, the Cougars lost to the Mead Mavericks 68-53. In spite of a strong start and an energetic home crowd, Niwot struggled to keep pace with Mead's sharp execution.

The Cougars seized an early lead after senior Luke Demmel won the tipoff, and a three-pointer from Das put Niwot ahead 5-2. However, the Mavericks responded with efficient shooting to lead 15-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Mead widened its advantage in the second and third quarters, extending the lead to 54-34. Niwot made a valiant push in the fourth quarter, led by senior Sebastian Stenz and Das, who combined for nine points in the final period. Junior Henry Noblin also contributed with solid rebounding, recording five boards.

Despite outscoring Mead 19-14 in the fourth quarter, the Cougars' late rally fell short. Niwot shot 44% from the field, with Stenz leading the team with 16 points and Das following closely behind with 15 points.

Looking ahead, Coach Walker Bounds emphasized that his goal for the remainder of the season is "to continue to grow as a team, and put forth our best effort in everything we do."

This week leaves the Cougars 4-12 overall with no wins in the league. On Tuesday, Jan. 28, they play Broomfield High School and on Friday, Jan. 31 they play Holy Family High School. Both games are away and are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.