Rutledge gets a little air and two

For the second time this season, the Clark Cougars varsity boys basketball team has defeated a state ranked team.  The Judson Rockets, ranked #22 by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, found out the hard way that the Cougars are a team on the rise.  Clark won 46-44 in an overtime thriller.

The Rockets looked like they would take off with a win in the first quarter.  Pinpoint shooting by Judson and Cougar misses gave Judson an early 21-11 lead.  The Cougars continued to fight but at the half the deficit was no closer, with Judson taking a 29-18 lead into the locker room.  The 3rd quarter was more of the same and going into the final period, Clark still trailed the Rockets 35-25.

In the 4th quarter, however, the Cougars defensive pressure and tough offensive hustle gave Clark a chance.  The defense allowed only three Judson points while the offense scored thirteen, none more important than a clutch three pointer by Adam Perez to send the game into overtime.

In the OT period, the Cougars took the lead for the first time and never gave it back to the Rockets.  An Ansley Benjamin putback and Adam Perez’s steal late in OT sealed the win.

The Rockets were ranked #5 in San Antonio followed by the Cougars at #6.  The Cougars now get ready for district play, where they will face the brandies next. District 27-5A has two other teams currently ranked by the Express News in the top ten.

Kyle Rutledge led the Cougars with fourteen points, Perez had nine and Benjamin added another eight.

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