Couriers win Cougar Classic despite last-second loss

WINONA LAKE (Saturday, December 29, 2007) – For the second straight year the Trinity Titans beat the Couriers in the closing seconds of their Cougar Classic matchup.

Nick Scott’s turnaround jumper gave Trinity (6-5) a 42-40 win as the horn sounded. Mike Troyer’s two free throws capped a 5-0 Courier run to tie the game with 28.9 seconds remaining.

The Couriers led 15-6 after one period but scored only two points in the second period to fall behind 19-17 at the half. The Couriers, leading 35-31 early in the fourth, saw the Titans go on a 9-0 run for a 40-35 lead with 46.5 seconds left.

Evan Stutzman hit a three-pointer to pull the Couriers within two at 39 seconds. Ten seconds later, Troyer stole the ball and was fouled on the layup attempt.

On December 30, 2006, Mike Bradley’s free throw at :00 gave the Titans a win over the Couriers. The Couriers win overtime games in 2004 and 2005.

Troyer finished with 13 points, Stutzman 12 and Todd Martin 10 for the Couriers (7-2). Matt Keenan paced the Titans with 15 and Scott managed 13 for the victors.

In a midday game the Couriers downed the Huntington Eagles 58-39 after outscoring the Eagles 22-7 in the final quarter.

The two teams were tied at halftime and the Eagles led 30-26 after Colin Featherston’s steal and basket with 2:45 left in the third period. The Eagles, a team of home schoolers, managed just two points the rest of the quarter to the Couriers’ ten and trailed 36-32 entering the final eight minutes of play.

Mike Troyer, Carl Martin and Todd Martin contributed to eight straight Couriers and a 44-32 lead to start the fourth. The team led by at least 10 points the rest of the contest.

Todd Martin hit four three-pointers and a game-high 20 points for the Couriers. Stutzman contributed 11, Troyer and Carl Martin both 10.

Taylor Frank scored 11 of his 16 points in the first half for the Eagles. Andrew Daniels added 15. Kolby Shultz (6) and Featherston (2) were the only other scorers for the Eagles, who compiled a 2-1 record in the Cougar Classic.

While Trinity, Clinton and Huntington all recorded 2-1 marks at the tourney, the Couriers emerged as champions by allowing a combined 119 points to Trinity’s 133 and Huntington's 137.