For the first time in 14 years the Clark Cougars will play in a Regional final basketball game hoping to take the school where it’s never been before – the State Tournament. The 58-51 semi-final victory over Laredo Alexander came after a slow start in the opening period for Clark. Down 7-11 after one, the Cougars out scored the Bulldogs 18-10 in the second period to take a 25-19 lead into the halftime locker room. Up 37-32 going into the final period the Cougars gave the Clark crowd some nervous moments, but never lost control of the game, building a 12 point lead with two minutes remaining. Those last two minutes saw that lead reduced to four with just 25 seconds left on the clock, but the Cougars persevered and closed out the victory. Adam Perez led the scoring with 24, Travis Matthews had 11 and Carter Josephs 10 points.

Up next is a familiar foe, the Warren Warriors. Clark was unable to beat Warren in the regular season, but their last meeting, on January 24th, was an overtime thriller that ended 65-62.

The All-NISD regional final will take place at noon on Saturday back in the UTSA Convocation Center. Time to show up LOUD and PROUD Clark, Texas! See you at the game!

GO COOGS!!!

EXPRESS-NEWS ARTICLE

KABB-TV SPORTS VIDEO

Game broadcast live on tsrnsports.com

Cougar Crowd Power

The Region 4 – 5A Tournament tips off tomorrow night just down the road from Clark, Texas at the UTSA Convocation Center. Reporters at the Express News, which dubbed Clark a “darkhorse” at the start of the playoffs still consider the Cougars an underdog based on the paper’s tournament predictions. But they’re also discussing the “great job” that Clark players and Coach Steve Sylestine have done to get to the Regional tourney. In their informal pre-tournament podcast reporters Lorne Chan and Blake Hurtik describe Clark as “scrappy” as they do a little dissecting of the upcoming games. Listen in.

Tickets for the tournament games will be $10 for adults and $7 for students with no passes accepted. That price gets you in for both games – Warren and Laredo United at 6:00pm and Clark and Laredo Alexander at 8pm. The winners will play on Saturday at noon and tickets will be $8 for adults and $5 for students. For out of town fans and those who can’t possibly get to UTSA on Friday night there will be a radio broadcast live online at tsrnsports.com.

So be there and Black Out the bleachers and support our Cougars all the way to State!

LET’S GO COUGARS!!!!

Josephs' block in the 4th qtr.

The Clark Cougar varsity basketball team, looking to make it 2 out of 3 against the District 27-5A champions,  did just that in the regional quarterfinals.  Clark sent the Brandeis Broncos to the glue factory, 45-39. They now play Laredo Alexander at the regional semifinals Friday at UTSA at 8pm and with a win will play again on Saturday at noon.

Clark started off with a 9-0 lead after the 1st quarter.  Travis Matthews had 4 pts. and the Clark defense and an enthusiastic Clark student section kept “my little ponies” scoreless with an 0 for 8 and three turnover opening period.  The Broncos fought back in the 2nd quarter.  With Adam Perez on the bench with early foul troubles, the Cougars committed 7 turnovers in the 2nd quarter and the teams went to the locker rooms tied 14-14.

The 2nd half was a back and forth affair, with the nags taking a 26-21 lead after three quarters.  The Cougars rallied in the fourth behind blocks by Carter Josephs, a key block by Troy Ogletree, solid free throw shooting by Perez and inside shooting by Travis Matthews. Justin Brickman also had a key steal and bucket that kept the Cougars ahead late in the game along with a key assist to Matthews.

Editor’s Note:  Special recognition goes out to the LOUD, ROWDY and well behaved Clark student section.  Nice showing but don’t slack up now. You were great!   And this website has taken its last shot at the Brandeis Broncos.  No more “brandees”, “my little ponies”, “bronc-no’s”, “nags”, “rented mules”, “geldings”, etc.   Your success earns you the right to be called by your proper name as our NISD little sisters.  (OK,  last one, I promise…)

• envision! PHOTOS
• Express News article
• sasports.com PHOTOS
• Laredo Alexander article

Clark boys basketball takes on Brandeis tonight at 7:00 for a spot in the Regional Tournament this weekend. The Cougars beat the Broncos 62-38 back in December and Brandeis won in January 49-42. A loud and proud Clark, Texas crowd is needed to fill the stands!

For out of town fans, tune in to TSRN sports radio online for the broadcast.

GO COOGS!!!!

Perez scores 2 of his 18 points

The Clark Cougars varsity basketball team advanced to the 3rd round of the 5A playoffs with a 56-51 over the #7 Wagner Thunderbirds.  A loud crowd saw the Cougars once again clamp down on defense and make baskets when needed to get the win.

A tight game opened up to an eight point lead at halftime by Clark.  Adam Perez’ 3-point basket at the buzzer sent the Cougars to the locker room with a 29-21 lead.  Wagner flew back in the third with three point shooting to make it a 39-38 game after three periods of play.  The game wasn’t a certain win until Carter Josephs made a steal with :08 seconds left in the game.

NOW PAY ATTENTION:  This means the Cougars will take on BRANDEIS on Tuesday at Paul Taylor next.  These Coogs need a LOUD CROWD to help them on their way. The “my little ponies” fans will be there with support.  Show up, tweet, facebook your friends, and get ready to get rowdy!

Great game Coogs!

• envision! PHOTOS
• Express News coverage

Cougars moving on in playoffs

For the 2nd year in a row –  against the same team, in the same place – the Clark Cougar boys varsity team advanced to the second round of playoffs with a win.  Corpus Christi Carroll fell to the Cougars 65-53.

The Clark defense took their job seriously as the Cougars jumped to a 17-7 lead early.  The Tigers never adjusted and Adam Perez’ fourth quarter heroics sealed the victory.  John Chapman added 12 and Carter Josephs had 7 points in the win.

The Cougars next face Wagner Thursday at 8:00pm at UTSA. Way to go Coogs!

CallerTimes.com article – photos

Jason Brickman

Clark alum Jason Brickman (2010), the starting point guard for the Long Island Blackbirds, was named Player of the Week for the Northeast Conference following his third double double of the season, including 16 assists. Read more.

Jason’s younger brother, Justin, is a junior guard on the Clark basketball team.

Congratulations Jason!

Clark boys basketball ended the 27-5A district season with a 62-57 win over Marshall on Wednesday. Travis Matthews finished with 13 points and Justin Brickman and Shawn Gulley each put up 12 in the win, along with 10 from Adam Perez and Carter Josephs’ 9 points.

Next up for the Coogs is round one of the playoffs against Corpus Christi Carroll at 7:00 pm on February 21st at Victoria West.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GO COOGS!!!

Perez scolds the Huskies

Both Clark varsity basketball teams and soccer teams were victorious in their games in district play.

Perhaps the most dramatic win came as the boys basketball team was down by 2 points with :01 left in their overtime game with Holmes.  Adam Perez floated a three pointer over the Huskie defense to give the Cougars a one point win 49-48.  The boys are currently 3rd in the district standings with 3 games left on the schedule.

On the girls side, Donna Matthews led all scorers with 9 points as Clark easily defeated the Huskies 44-27.  The win gives the Cougars a 19-12 record.  A Clark win in their final game combined with Jay losses in their next two games keeps the Cougars’ playoff hopes alive.

Blair Socha and Chloe Treviño each had a goal to lead the Clark girls soccer team over Warren 2-1.  On the boys side, a 5-2 blowout of the Warriors led by Carlos Sepulveda’s hat trick gave the boys an easy win.

Clark's Sarah Flournoy

Clark girls basketball rolled to an important win over Warren on Wednesday that leaves them tied with Brandeis for 4th place in district with three games remaining. The 49-44 win over Warren was led by Donna Matthews who had 15 points and Kristen Lye with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Trei Torain had 8 points and Ashley Salinas added 6. The Cougars have an 18-11 season record and are 8-5 in district.  Next up is Stevens on Friday at 7:30 in the gym at O’Connor.

The Clark boys lost a heartbreaker to Warren on Tuesday 65-62 in overtime. Adam Perez had 17 points, Cal Harr 13 and Travis Matthews had 12 in the effort. The boys are now in 3rd place with 5 games remaining in a tight 27-5A race. They take on Stevens at 6:00 on Friday at o’c.

GO GET ‘EM COOGS!!!