Copperas Cove Bulldawgs move to 3-0 against Cedar Park; Lady Dawgs win silver bracket title

By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press

BELTON - The Copperas Cove Bulldawgs outscored the Cedar Park Timberwolves 41-24 in the second and third quarters to build a 57-38  thir-quarter lead on their way to a 70-59 win Saturday at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor’s Crusader Gymnasium to improve to 3-0 on the year.
Leading 16-14, the Bulldawgs began to pull away when senior Frank Alvarado hit his third three-pointer of the first half to start a 15-7 run to close the first half. A pair of field goals and 2 for 2 free throws by senior Neyland Block helped off off a Cedar Park surge for a 28-24 lead with 2:06 left.
Senior Jacob Carter hit a three-pointer and scored three the traditional way to close out the period and give the Dawgs a 34-26 halftime lead.
Two quick buckets by Block and senior Jhylil Rice then pushed Cove’s lead to 12, 38-26, to kick start a 13-0 run by the Dawgs for a 21-point advantage, 47-26 with 4:18 remaining in the third. A free throw and a three-pointer by senior Justus Honea, a bucket by Rice and a free throw and steal for a bucket by Block accounted for the rest of the run.
A pair of buckets by Block; along with field goals by Honea, junior Tyrese Taylor and senior Daveon Stringer closed out the third-quarter scoring for Cove.
The Dawgs started the fourth quarter in a similar fashion with an 8-0 run after the opening bucket by Cedar Park’s Ethan Kieke made it a 57-40 contest. 
Buckets by Carter and Block maintained Cove’s 21-point lead, 61-40, before 2 for 2 free throws by Alvarado and a driving bucket by Block gave the Dawgs their biggest lead on the night of 25, 65-40, with 4:17 left in the game.
A basket by Stringer made it a 68-44 lead and one free throw each by senior Deandre McKinnis and junior Terrance McKenzie closed out the Cove scoring.
The Timberwolves had a run of their own to cut the Cove lead to 11 by the final buzzer, 70-59, paced by 11 points from junior Carson Cater.
Honea hit back-to-back three-pointers to open the contest while two more three pointers and 2 for 2 free throws by Alvarado and a field goal by senior Tyrese Cooley gave Cove a 16-14 lead after one.
Block, Honea and Alvarado topped the scoring chart for the Bulldawgs with 13 apiece while Rice and Carter added eight points each to pace the Dawgs. Taylor (6), Cooley (4), Stringer (2), McKenzie (1), McKinni (1) and Thomas (1) accounted for the rest of the Cove scoring.
Cater led the Timberwolves’ scoring with 19 points followed by senior Eric Weeks (8), junior Josh Baker (8), Kieke (6), senior Tanner Radke (5), junior Zach Herbcek (4), junior Trey Herbstreit (4), senior Connor Brack (2), sophomore Jacob Hester (2) and junior Devon Beck (1).
The Dawgs defeated Class 5A no. 23-ranked Pflugerville Connally 82-76 Friday night before moving to 3-0 against Cedar Park on Saturday.
The Dawgs hosted Lake Travis yesterday afternoon (results not available as of press time) and will travel to Pflugerville today before their holiday break. The Dawgs return to action Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 for the Marble Falls Subway Classic.
The No. 9 ranked (Texas Girls’ Coaches Association) Copperas Cove Lady Dawgs basketball team also had a strong weekend, finishing the Marble Falls tournament as Silver Bracket champions.
The Lady Dawgs had a slow start to the tournament before finishing strong with four consecutive wins to take the Silver Bracket title.
The Lady Dawgs opened the tournament with a 57-44 loss to San Antonio O’Connor and a 65-43 loss to Austin Vandegrift.
The Lady Dawgs responded with a 62-52 win over Hutto and a 73-35 trouncing of Austin Lanier on Friday.
The Lady Dawgs then earned a spot in the Silver Bracket championship on Saturday with a close 55-53 win over Plainview before downing El Paso Chapin 61-40 in the title game.
Senior Mariyah Reynolds, senior Erica Powell and junior Madison Griffon were named to the All-Tournament team.
The Lady Dawgs (11-2) played at Waco La Vega yesterday afternoon (results not available as of press time) and will travel to Granbury on Tuesday, Nov. 28 and Manor on Friday, Dec. 1 before opening up District 8-6A play at Belton on Friday, Dec. 8.