Cougars demonstrate their offensive strength

CHESTERTOWN | All eleven North Warren boys basketball players competing this last week against Hartford and Salem scored in each game, demonstrating the Cougars' remarkable offensive depth and versatility. On Jan. 13, North Warren defeated Hartford 72-36 and on Jan. 16, they cruised over Salem 89-43. "Hartford was one of the top four teams in the Adirondack League as of last week, so this was a big win for us," North Warren coach James Cuyler said. Sophomore guard Brodie Rooker led the Cougars with 19 points, followed by sophomore shooting guard Mihir Patel with 15 points. Junior guard George Hilton contributed seven points, while sophomore forward/guard Chase Scheidegger and junior forward/wing Patrick Viele each scored six points. Senior point guard Coleman Swartz and sophomore guard Beckett Kelly each added five points, while senior guard Dan Mattison provided three. Scoring two points each were senior forwards Will Lindsley and Connor Clench, as well as senior center AJ Masiello. By the end of the third quarter, the Cougars were leading 64-23. Over the final eight minutes, Hartford trimmed the scoring gap with a 13-8 advantage. Key to the win, Cuyler said, was Swartz guarding Hartford's hotshot Aiden Swezey, containing his scoring and disrupting the Tanagers' offense. "Our defensive pressure bothered them, helping us to get easy baskets," he said. Cuyler noted that Patel, drafted this year from junior varsity, has been a "scoring machine" in his limited minutes on the court. "I imagine Mihir could do a lot of damage if I gave him more time in games," he said. NORTH WARREN 89, SALEM 43 Coach James Cuyler gave all his 11 suited players plenty of court time Jan. 16 as North Warren defeated Salem 89-43. Five of Cuyler's crew scored in double figures as the Cougars matched their highest-scoring game this season — on Nov. 29, the Cougars defeated Galway 89-33. As of Nov. 13, the Cougars were ranked the No. 13 Class D team in the state, up from No. 16 a week earlier. In the matchup with Salem, Swartz was the lead scorer: he sank five three-point shots for 15 points. "He came out on the court firing," Cuyler said. Rooker and Viele each scored 14 points, while Scheidegger and Patel scored 12 apiece. Lindsley contributed six points, followed by Mattison, Masiello and Kelly with four each. Hilton and Clench added two points apiece. Cuyler noted that Masiello executed two "monster" blocks, while Viele demonstrated his potential in the game by shooting five-for-six at the foul line in addition to sinking three two-point shots and one three-pointer, as well as playing solid defense. "Going forward, we're excited about what Patrick can do," Cuyler said. For Salem, junior guard Quinten Rushinski was top scorer with 12 points, and junior forward Jack Sweenor contributed 10. After the game, Cuyler told Salem's coach that the Generals' young players fought hard the entire game and have a promising future. Next up for North Warren is a home game at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 versus Argyle and an away game at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 against Hudson Falls. On Tuesday, Jan. 27, the Cougars will compete against Corinth in the Riverhawks' gym, and it is expected to be a battle. As of Jan. 18, both teams were undefeated in the Adirondack League.

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Cougars demonstrate their offensive strength

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