All Saints Cougars Fall To Cardinal Mooney 51 - 47
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ASC's Justin and Thomas Villano watch as Cardinal Mooney celebrates. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
The Breslin Center at Michigan State University - that's where the All Saints Cougars wanted to find themselves on Thursday. Unfortunately, the Cougars will have to continue their long wait to travel to the Breslin as a member of the final four. The Cougars entered their second consecutive quarterfinal game Tuesday night as the veteran team. Their opponents, Cardinal Mooney, were a Cinderella team that won their first ever regional title this season. But despite all the positive stats for the Cougars, the Cardinals were no pushover team. The game was an even battle from start to finish as both teams struggled desperately to keep their post-seasons alive. Unfortunately for the Cougars, it was the Cardinals that worked the hardest in the clutch fourth quarter, and the Cardinals that walked away with the ticket to the final four.
Cougar Adam Pijaszek opens the scoring - but Cardinal Mooney held him to only 4pts! (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
The Cougars started out strong as always with a tip-off win, followed by a two-pointer from Adam Pijaszek #20 to take the early lead. That's where the Cardinals proved they were a force to be reckoned with. The Cardinals quickly answered with their own bucket; but they were just getting warmed up. The Cardinals muscled their way to a 10-4 point lead. All Saints Coach Mike Showalter called a timeout, but the route continued. Andrew Beeler #2 scored nine points in the opening quarter for the Cards, as his team cruised to a 13-4 point lead. The Cougars fought back at the last minute with a pair of two-pointers to narrow their deficit to 13-8 going into the second quarter.
All Saints Senior Justin Villano had a 16pt night. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
Mooney's #2 A. Beeler tries to cover Cougar Thomas Villano. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
It's easy to see how All Saints Thomas Villano ended up with an 11pt night - what an effort! (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
The story continued for the Cougars in the second quarter. The Cardinals used their three-point prowess to provide two more killer triple pointers. Drew Janer #23 accounted for half of the Cougars offense in the second quarter. Janer tacked five points to keep his team in the game. Despite his best efforts, the Cougars still lagged 23-18.
(above) ASC's Drew Janer breaks around Mooney's G. Glowniak on his way to the basket (below).
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
Cougar Fan's get F I R E D UP!! (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
The Cougars caught fire in the third quarter. Baskets from Kevin Sweircz #14 and Janer tied the game up 26-26 with six minutes left in the quarter. After both teams added a basket to the totals the Cougars claimed the lead and steamed to a 32-29 lead. The Cardinals managed to score one last two-pointer in the quarter as the Cougars outscored the Cards 18 to a mere 8. For the moment, at least, the Cougars held the momentum in the close game.
ASC Junior Kevin Swiercz works his way to the basket. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
Drew Janer ties up the game. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
Cardinal Mooney's Garrison Glowniak had an 18pt night leading his team to the State Finals. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
The Cardinals opening the scoring in the final period with another crushing three-pointer. The Cougars answered back, but after a series of missed free-throws and fouls against the Cougars, All Saints clung to a scant 42-38 point lead. That lead evaporated before the Cougars shocked eyes as the Cardinals scored another triple pointer, and a free throw point, to knot it up again 42-42. After a quick All Saints time-out the Cougars rebuilt their lead to 47-42; even though their free-throw woes continued on the line.
The Cardinals fought back again from their deficit to pull within one point of the Cougars with four free-throw points. The Cougars then surrendered their lead to the Cardinals as they received a slew of fouls. The Cardinals went 14-18 on free-throw shots, to the Cougars dismal 3-14. The Cougars lost in the final minute of play 51-47.
Cougar Justin Villano makes this one look effortless! (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
Cardinal Mooney took this game on the free throw line shooting 14 for 18. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
A worried Cougar bench as the last minute ticks away. (L/R) Ben Pijaszek, Aaron Villano, Garrett Bowker, Nate Sobczak, and Ryan Thornton. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
"We got outplayed." That's what Coach Showalter said on his teams behalf after the disappointing loss. The Cougars have lost in their past four consecutive quarterfinal appearances. "This game was ours to lose" was a statement repeated over and over by the shocked Cougar team. Justin Villano said of his team "we played hard - it just wasn't enough."
The 'Twin Towers' of Justin Villano (above) and Thomas Villano (below) will be greatly missed next year.
(MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
Despite the saddening loss, the All Saints Cougars have many things to be proud of. They successfully managed to defend not only their District title, but their Regional title as well. The Cougars enjoyed an extremely successful season despite its bitter end. Although the season is over, and many of the Cougars now head to the baseball field for their next sports season, the Cougars continued their tradition of excellent basketball and superior sportsmanship. The 09-10 All Saints Cougars have nothing to be ashamed of; and the day that the Cougars finally hoist the state championship trophy in glory is all the more closer after another valiant run in the playoffs.
A final look at our Senior Regional Champions! (LtoR) Thomas Villano, Adam Pijaszek, Justin Villano, and Ryan Thornton. (MyBayCity Photo by Kevin Kula)
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