Cougars fall to Union Monday

The York Comprehensive High School boys’ basketball team ran into a hot-shooting Union County contingent Monday, with Yellow Jackets prevailing, 78-56.

The Yellow Jackets assumed control in the early stages of the game, building a 45-26 halftime lead.

York had its moments, especially in the second quarter when the Cougars sliced the lead to 13 at 38-25 midway through the quarter.

Senior guard Antonio Hardy, with teammates Chandler Culp and Cameron Jones, spearheaded the second-quarter surge.

It was a free throw by Hardy that pulled the Cougars within 13 points of the high-flying Jackets.

Jones, a scoring threat for the Cougars, gave the Jackets something to think about when he rejected an attempted slam dunk.

But the Union team held strong with a double-digit lead to seal the win.

“Tonight, you saw the difference between a senior-laden team, nine, 10 seniors, and two seniors for us,” said first-year York head boys’ basketball coach Mike Gossett. “Our kids did not quit. They did not give up and kept fighting hard. They should be proud.”

Gossett added: “Again, it’s our lack of ability to get on the glass and to be slow going for loose balls. There are fundamental things we need to work on.”

Despite the loss, Gossett said there were things the Cougars did well.

“We cut a 20-something lead to 12 with a chance to get it under,” he said. “It was their experience and our inexperience.”

Gossett saw positive signs in the second half.

“We started seeing the backdoor cut,” he said. “We had a little more movement on offense. But there are times when we get stagnant and stand around. You can’t do that, especially against a team that’s pressuring you all over the place.”

Gossett said a team’s mindset impacts the game.

“You have to have confidence in your dribble and confidence in your strength with the dribble,” he said. “We just aren’t strong with the basketball, bottom line.”

On Friday, the Cougars extended a strong Chester team to the limit in the first half before the Cyclones were able to pull away in the second half for the 71-56 win.

Junior Wally Wilmore had a productive first quarter with seven points, including a three-pointer that kept the YCHS team within striking distance.

Trailing 18-12 at the start of the second quarter, the Cougars stayed within striking distance until the Cyclones sealed the win in the second half.

“We had a tough time on the boards tonight,” Gossett said after the game. “We started out really not boxing out, which is one thing we emphasize. We got to within six in the third quarter before they went on a run.”

With the Cougars facing a grinding non-region schedule, Gossett sees light at the end of the tunnel.

“We have a good group of kids,” he said. “They come to work and they’re learning. We’ve got guys that are really JV players playing varsity.”

Myles Prosser, a 6-4 junior who is making his presence felt in the paint, knows the Cougars are approaching region play.

“The key when we get into region play is to execute and knock down shots when we have them,” said Prosser. “Basketball is a lot about stamina. When you get tired, you gotta keep pushing.”

Sophomore guard Malcolm Kennedy said there’s a lot of basketball to be played and the Cougars will get their game where it needs to be.

“It is important that we get ready for the region,” he said. “”That’s what we’re working toward.”

The Cougars play at Spartanburg Christian Academy at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at and host Chester at 8 p.m. Friday.

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 10:38 AM with the headline "Cougars fall to Union Monday."