Boys varsity basketball: The Cowboys face off against the Spartans and Pompano Beach

BY HAILEY BROWN

With the 2018-2019 season beginning, the Cowboys started off their first week of games. The Cowboys had two games, one home and one away. The Cowboys faced off against Pompano Beach High School, where they were able to win their first game 77-43. The Cowboys then played their second game of the week and were also able to win in their match against Hollywood Hills High School. The Cowboys were able to secure the win in overtime with a score of 68-63.

On Monday, November 26, the Cowboys took on Pompano Beach High School at home for their very first game of the regular season. Junior Dallas Graziani went 8 for 16 shooting, two of them being 3-pointers, earning him 26 points. Freshman Nathan Hickman, a starter on varsity, went 4 for 9 shooting, with three of them being 3-pointers, earning 11 points. Sophomore Matthew Archey went 5 for 6 driving to the basket, earning 10 points.

The Cowboys were also able to hold a 75 percent average on the line, with the team making 12 of the 16 attempts. The Cowboys quickly got a lead and were able to hold it for the entirety of the game, ending 77-43.

“We were disappointed in how we played in the first half,” Graziani said. “But we knew we had to come out with more energy in the second half and execute better to get a dub.”

“We played good as a team,” Archey said. “And I think we will play better as the season goes on and hopefully play more … together with each other.”

On Wednesday, November 28, the Cowboys played the Hollywood Hills Spartans at Hollywood Hills High School. The first quarter started and the teams were going back and forth. Senior Damien Forbing got a pass from Graziani, scoring the first points of the game. The Spartans did not hesitate to get back in the game, quickly scoring two more points. The quarter continued neck and neck.

Bryce Weinsier was fouled before driving and making it, earning him one foul shot. Weinsier made it and put three more points up on the board. Hollywood Hills was fouled on the next drive, also putting up three points.

The Spartans got through the Cowboys’ defense, making a layup, and then stopped the Cowboys from scoring. After getting the ball back, Hollywood Hills made a 3-pointer and continued to press the Cowboys in hopes of stopping them from scoring. The Spartans were able to make back-to-back steals and get themselves ahead, ending the first quarter in the lead with a score of 20-15.

Senior Chris Allen started off the second quarter with a 3-point shot, but the Spartans answered back with another 3-pointer. Both teams continued to fight; Forbing blocked two shots and then, on an out-of-bounds play, put up another two points off an assist from Freshman Elijah Wyche. The second quarter ended 31-28 with Cooper City ahead.

“We were disappointed in how we played in the first half,” Graziani said. “But we knew we had to come out with more energy in the second half and execute better to get a dub.”

The Cowboys came out of the locker room ready to pull ahead. Both teams continued to fight going point-for-point, staying within five points of each other at all times. The game ended in a tie of 56-56, and overtime began.

“The game got intense closer to the end,” Forbing said. “Being tied with Hills and going into overtime was very intense, but we were able to get stops on defense and score on offense and make our free throws to secure the win.”

The crowd went wild as both teams took the court again. The clock was reset to four minutes, giving each team a limited time to get ahead. Cooper City won the jump ball but then lost the ball and ended up fouling one of the Spartans, earning Hollywood Hills two foul shots. Both were made– putting the Spartans in the lead.

As Graziani was bringing the ball back, he saw an open 3-point shot and took it. Graziani made the shot while getting fouled, giving him a foul shot and earning the Cowboys four points. Forbing was fouled while driving to the basket, making both foul shots and widening the gap.

Graziani was fouled two more times and made all four foul shots, putting the score at 66-60 and Cooper City in the lead. The Spartans scored a 3-pointer and the crowd erupted in cheers. The Cowboys were three points ahead with nine seconds left in overtime. Graziani was fouled with six seconds left in the game, making both foul shots and ending the game 68-63. The Cowboys got the victory and ended their first week of games with a record of 2-0.

“The game got intense closer to the end,” Forbing said. “Being tied with Hills and going into overtime was very intense, but we were able to get stops on defense and score on offense and make our free throws to secure the win.”

Photo by The Lariat Photography