The JV Cougars racked up another loss on Friday, falling to a fast paced Manchester West team 64-56. The JV Cougars now sit at 10-5 on the season after an 8-0 start.

Defense was once again the downfall for the JV Cougars letting up 64 points, which included 38 in the first half, and giving up 10 three pointers. The JV Cougars came out walking through the motions once again but somehow kept it close in the first quarter, only being down 6 with a 19-13 deficit. With the JV Cougars bench on the floor, the Manchester West team went on a 19-5 run and the JV Cougars suddenly found themselves down by 20, 38-18, with 3 minutes and 14 seconds left in the half.

Then something changed in the JV Cougars. After Austin Knight muscles in an and1, the JV Cougars found the spark back that they had been missing for the last few weeks. The JV Cougars finished the last 3 minutes on a 10-0 run to go into half time down 10.

The quick fast paced start and play of the West team was too much for the Cougars to overcome. Despite the JV Cougars winning the second half 28-26 and winning the last 19:14 of the game 38-26, they just couldn't overcome the poor start. They let the quick, flashy West point guard score all 11 of West's fourth quarter points and ended up losing by 8.

Austin Knight was the games high scorer with 13. Erich Clark followed with 12. Malachi Page had 9 and Max Scheinblum had 8.

Despite the loss, the JV Cougars look to carry that reignited spark with them to finish out the season. The JV Cougars have a tough 3 game schedule to close out their year, traveling away to Hanover on Tuesday, away to Coe-Brown Friday, and away to Souhegan on vacation before their tournament in Pelham March 2nd and 3rd.