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. (continue reading…)

Ansley Benjamin

The Clark boys basketball team tips off a new season this week ranked #9 in the Express News rankings. The paper features forward Ansley Benjamin as one of the “Players to Watch” in the upcoming season. The Cougars start the season Monday against Roosevelt at 6:30 at Paul Taylor.

The Clark girls team is getting their season started under new head coach Richard Herbst. The girls will play Roosevelt on Tuesday at 6:30 also at Taylor.

GO COOGS!

A. Benjamin catches and runs for 52 yds.

A strong start by the Clark Cougars wasn’t enough to keep the Warren Warriors from winning in the Cougars fifth district game of 2010.  Warren won 17-14 giving the Cougars a 3-2 record in district and a 3-4 record overall.

In the 1st quarter, Warren took the opening kickoff and drove to the Cougar 11 yd. line, where the defense forced them into a field goal.  The attempt, however, was no good as Kris Patino got a hand on the ball as it went up.  The Cougars took over and drove 89 yds., converting a 4th and 1 at the Warren 8 before Deandre Holmes, who would gash the Warrior defense in the first half, scored from 1 yd. out giving Clark a 7-0 lead with 8:57 left to go in the half.  The Cougars scoring drive was their first possession of the game.

Warren’s next offensive possession resulted in a touchdown (which on video review – was not), tying the game at 7 with 3:20 left before the half. A 52 yd. Josh Kern to Ansley Benjamin reception set up the next Cougar score as Deandre Holmes took a 4 yd. run around the left for a Clark 14-7 lead going into halftime.  In the first half, each team only had the ball twice.

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Jones shreds the Marshall "D"

It was another lopsided defeat by the Clark Cougars varsity football team over the Marshall Rams in a 49-7 beat down at Farris Stadium.  Coach Steve McGhee made sure several reserve players saw action in the second half and they scored 14 points and kept the Rams to 2 total rushing yards for the half.

Among the highlights:

• Ryan Jones’ prolific night rushing
• Deandre Holmes 2 TDs
• Josh Kern to Austin Wise – twice –  one for TD
• Kern to Jeremy Harris setting up a score
• A STIFLING defensive effort including two fumble recoveries
• Alex Ethridge and Brian Socha TDs
• Ansley Benjamin LIGHTING UP a Ram returner

There’s more to say but Pat Turner of the Express News covers it all here.

WAY TO PLAY COOGS!

• Express News article
• Express News boxscore
• KABB Fox29 video
• envision! PHOTOS
• jupiter hill PHOTOS

Cougars win in June

Congratulations to several Clark Cougars on a stellar performance in summer league games this past week. Jacob Palacios, Adam Perez, Ansley Benjamin and several other Cougars showed well in state tournaments. You can read more about them here.

Congratulations to several Clark Cougars as the spring edition of the Express News all city awards were announced. Seniors Elhad Emerllahu and Jason Brickman made the Express News Super Team in basketball.  Junior Johnny Lawson made the Express News Super Team for soccer as did Gabrielle Santorio.  Several athletes also made all area teams and all district teams.  All can be found at mysanantonio.com.

ALL AREA

Elhad carries the Cougars to victory

Behind senior Elhad Emerllahu’s 37 points, the Clark Cougars blew out the East Central Hornets in the first round of the 2010 basketball playoffs 91-66.  Playing at St. Mary’s University on the court he might call his college home, Emerllahu had his way with an over-matched Hornet team.  Jason Brickman posted 25 and Ansley Benjamin added another 18.

The Cougars jumped ahead early but the Hornets shooters heated up and they took a 15-7 lead with three and a half minutes in the 1st quarter.  The Cougars put their own run together and tied the game 18-18 before East Central closed the quarter with a 3 point shot to make it 21-18 Hornets at the end of the 1st.

Clark regained its composure in the 2nd quarter, outscoring the Hornets 25-18 and went up 43-39 into halftime.  The second half was all Cougars as they scored the first 7 points on their way to a 21 point quarter, holding East Central to just 7 points in the 3rd.   With a 64-48 lead starting the 4th, the Cougars kept up the scoring and shut down the Hornet defense for the victory.

Next up for the Cougars, now Bi-District Champs is the Area game against Austin Bowie.   Clark vs. Austin Bowie will take place Friday or Saturday at a site to be determined.

• PHOTOS
• PHOTOS Express News
• ANALYSIS
• EXPRESS NEWS article

Cougars celebrate district championship

The Clark Cougar varsity basketball team claimed the 28-5A district championship with a win over Holmes 75-54.  The Cougars actually trailed after the 1st period but came back and stifled the Huskies with a 25 point outburst to end the half up 35-24.  Jason Brickman (22), Elhad Emerllahu (17) and Ansley Benjamin (20) led the scoring for the Cougars.  The win also pushed their win streak to 14, all against district foes.  The Cougars still have two games left in district play.

The Clark boys basketball team extended their perfect district record with an 82-68 win over Warren on Friday night. Guard Jason Brickman tossed in 26 points to lead all scorers. Elhad Emerllahu had 18 points, Sam Perez had 16 and Ansley Benjamin added 13 points in the win. The victory brings the Cougars district record to 12-0 and their season record to 25-5.

Brickman: Player of the Game

The Clark boys basketball team made a Who’s Number One statement at Paul Taylor fieldhouse on Friday night with a solid win over the second place Stevens Falcons by a score of 71-64.  The win gives the Cougars a two game lead over Stevens and Taft in the district race. Leading all scorers was Jason Brickman who had 27 points, Ansley Benjamin put in 12 and Sam Perez scored 11.

Read more about the Cougars history making win over Stevens in the Express News.

Texas Sports Radio Network , which broadcast the game, named Brickman its Player of the Game.