Boys varsity basketball: Cowboys defeat Posnack

BY OLIVIA LEWIS

The CCHS boys basketball team traveled right down the road to Posnack High School to play a non-district against the Rams. Both teams fought hard the entire game, keeping the score close. The Cowboys were in the lead the whole game, constantly scoring three-point shots. Although the Rams started to pick up their game towards the end, the Cowboys had already secured the win with a score of 63-51.

The Cowboys immediately started warming up after the girls game finished. They practiced taking shots and making layups, preparing themselves for the game in five minutes. Coach Erik Kapel called them in to tell them the starting players. With 30 seconds until the game, the players took the court and got into position. The buzzer and went off and the Cowboys snatched the ball.

Dylan Graziani took the first shot of the game, which was hit out of bounds. They passed the ball in and Damien Forbing received it. He went up for a shot but was fouled in the process. He lined up to take the foul shot, making two points for the Cowboys. A few seconds later the Cowboys made another two points. Andres Garcia stole the ball from an opposing player and took a shot, but missed. Forbing got the rebound and was fouled and awarded a foul shot.

He took it and made another two points. Posnack took the ball down quickly and made two points. Garcia dribbled the ball down the court again, but was fouled. He took his foul shot and made a point. A Posnack player went for a layup, but was fouled by Ryan Curbelo. The player took the foul shot and made it. Curbelo dribbled the ball down the court and made a three-point shot. Dallas Graziani stole the ball from the opposing player and took a shot, making a three-pointer and ending the first quarter with a score of 21-11.

The players took the court again and began playing. The Cowboys passed the ball around the Rams, trying to get a shot off. Dallas Graziani received the ball from his brother and took a shot, making another three-pointer. The Rams passed it down the court and took a shot, making two points. The Cowboys got the ball back and passed it around, waiting for someone to get open. Dylan Graziani took a shot, making a three-pointer for the Cowboys.

The Rams took the ball down again but was denied a shot by Curbelo. Dylan Graziani took the ball down himself and made another three-point shot. The Rams tried to get the ball down the court, but got it taken away by the Cowboys. Dylan Graziani had the ball in his hands and took a shot, was fouled in the process, and still made another three-pointer. He lined up to take his foul shot and made it, clapping up his teammates. He went for another point, but it hit off the rim. Curbelo snatched the rebound and made a layup, making another point. The time ran out and the score at the end of the half was 38-21.

The Cowboys came out with a lot of confidence from their constant scoring to the cheering from their fans. The Rams had possession of the ball and passed it around, taking a shot and making it. Curbelo got the ball and passed it to his teammates. He eventually got it back and took a three-point shot, making it. Posnack started to come back, being more aggressive than they were before. They dribbled it down the court and took a three-point shot, and made it. The Cowboys made several substitutions, taking out a few of their starting players. Chris Allen came in and received the ball immediately. He put moves on the opposing player marking him and shot a shot, making a three-pointer. Posnak made two more points after. Forbing got the ball again and dribbled it in, getting fouled by the Rams. He took his foul shot and made on point. The third quarter ended with a score of 52-31.

With the score being so high, Cooper City had no doubts that they were winning the game. Coach Kapel made a few more substitutions, putting fresh players on the court. Posnack started to score more points than they had in any other quarter. The Rams were able to put nine points on the scoreboard. The Cowboys didn’t lose their drive, and started moving the ball down the court. Bryce Weinsier got the ball and made a three point shot. The Rams got the ball back and made another three points.

The Rams had the ball again and dribbled it down the court, but Manuel Almanzar stole it and passed it to Dallas Graziani, who was awarded a foul. Graziani made both points. The game was tight, but the Cowboys began to take control again. The last round of substitutions went in, with the starters back on the court. Dylan Graziani got the ball and dribbled it down, going for a layup. He made the last two points of the game, ending with a score of 63-51.

“I think our team this year is doing great,” Weinsier said. “On the court we are so unselfish with the ball and so confident in our teammates. We all help each other get better in games and practices, we’re like a big family.”

The boys were proud of their win and hope to continue winning their games. Their next game is on Tuesday, January 23 at South Broward High School.

Photo by Casey Chapter