Clark basketball came up short in the Region IV Championship game today losing to district rival Warren 65-56. After holding a close lead through virtually the entire game victory slipped away in the closing minutes.

The Cougars surprised almost everyone this season by fighting through the loss of their top scorer, Niko Maxwell, early in the season and making it through four rounds of playoffs to become one of the last eight 5A teams standing in the state of Texas. So we thank them for playing with class and determination and for making their families, school and community so proud.

These are the seniors who led so well: Adam Perez, John Chapman, Carter Josephs, Travis Matthews, Cal Harr, Niko Maxwell, Troy Ogletree, Mkhael Swaidan, Austin Conlin and Jacob Huston.

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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!!!

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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!!!!

The beautiful game was just that for the Clark boys soccer team on Wednesday. The Cougars built a 4-0 halftime lead on their way to a 6-1 victory over the Broncos. Two Clark players found the back of the net not once, but twice – Chris Pantaleon and Manuel Garcia. Also scoring were Jair Rodriguez and Carlos Sepulveda. Yamil Alvarado and Romero Villalvazo had two assists each along with one each from Alex Martinez and John Cintron.

The Cougars district record is 9-1-1 with a big game against 27-5A leader Jay on Saturday at 2:00 at Farris. The Mustangs handed Clark its only loss of the season in the last 23 seconds of their game on January 31st.

Come out and support your Cougars on Saturday vs Jay – seven of the district’s top ten goal scorers will be on the field and four of them are Cougars!

GO COOGS!!!

The Clark baseball team pushed their district record to 2-0 on Tuesday, but it took 12 innings to get there. The Cougars built an 11-4 lead through three innings against Marshall, but a 7 run 6th inning by the Rams left the teams tied at 11. Each team got one run in the 7th leading to a 12-12 tie and extra innings. It wasn’t until Clark got the winning run in the 12th inning that the marathon finally ended. Chad Dullnig was on the mound to get the win for the Cougars.

The district game followed a weekend of up and down tournament action bringing the Cougars season record to 3-3-1. Up next is the Northeast ISD tourney starting Thursday and running through Saturday at Blossom.

Clark softball played for the championship of the East Central-Judson Tournament last weekend, eventually losing to Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway to take second place. On Tuesday they faced off against Brandeis in their 3rd district game of the young season and came up a run short, losing 6-7. This brings the Cougars district record to 2-1 and their season record to 6-3. They play again Friday at 5:00 against Jay at Northside.

GO GET ‘EM COOGS!

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…)

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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!!!!

Jair Rodriguez

The Clark boys soccer team exploded for 5 goals against Marshall on Friday while holding the Rams scoreless. The 5-0 victory included 2 goals by Carlos Sepulveda, and one each from Yamil Alvarado, Romero Villalvazo and Mario Perez.  Villalvazo also had two assists in the game along with assists from Jair Rodriguez and John Cintron. The Marshall goalkeeper made 10 saves against a busy Clark attack. This brings the team’s district record to 8-1-1, they are 14-1-3 on the season. Next week they face a tough Brandeis team on Wednesday and then get a chance to avenge their only loss of the season against Jay on Saturday, March 3rd at Farris. Should be two great games!

The Clark girls came up short against Marshall losing 0-1. The girls are still in the playoff hunt, just a game out of 4th place with six games remaining in the the season.

GO COOGS!!!

It’s already been a good year for Clark softball coach D’Layne Kelly and the season is just getting started. She recorded her 200th win as a head coach in the first game of the season and earlier was named Teacher of the Year at Clark. The Express News’ Pat Turner talked with Coach Kelly about softball and life – Read more.

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!

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