It seemed to be a game of threes on Thursday when the ninth-grade South Cougars and Southwest Bulldogs met on Southwest’s court. Both teams were heavy on three-point shots that resulted in three quarters where neither team led by more than six points.

But the power of three was broken in the fourth when Southwest surged ahead on two-point baskets to snatch a 61-50 victory.

Bulldogs head coach Mike Lewis said the team worked hard to secure the win.

“I am proud of the way the guys competed,” Lewis said. “We had the effort for all four quarters. We had enthusiasm on our defensive play and we also played well on offense.”

Within seconds of the tip-off the Bulldogs had the ball rolling into the first three-point bucket from player Lance Kilburn. Paul Eltschinger flexed his muscles in the post position with a trio of baskets. He first hit his mark with a swift tip of the ball for two, then blazed by Cougar challengers to break through for a follow-up and then finished up the six-point burst with a bucket on a pass from Kilburn. Saxon Kimball also showed a solid effort in the first and drove the ball around the Cougars for a swish.

South's Chebon Dawes muscles in the paint for two points against Southwest on Thursday. Southwest won the game on its home court and Dawes had a huge presence inside the paint for the Cougars.

The Cougars were not to be outdone as they sunk a field goal to answer Kilburn’s three. Shabon Dawes possessed both the height and agility to jump for a rebound shot after two failed attempts from his teammates and put the ball in the hoop. Clint Pinnick followed the three theme closely with a jumper shot and two consecutive three-pointers. Three free throws in the final seconds from Aaron Rea gave the Cougars a one-point edge over the Bulldogs as they closed out the first, 20-19.

A steal from the Bulldogs’ Dorian Green began the second and brought the ball into the hands of Connor Monarez, who sunk yet another three-pointer. Coach Lewis said Monarez’s shooting was an asset to the Bulldogs.

“Connor was able to get to the open and get the ball into the basket,” Lewis said.

Bobby Davis sunk the third three-pointer for the Bulldogs, which Kimball followed with a layup and an assist that gave the team a small lead.

Pinnick proved his long shot ability in the second for the Cougars and dropped in both his third and fourth three-pointer for the team. Pinnick’s moves were not enough to push the Cougars past the Bulldog’s and they ended the half trailing by two, 30-28.

The Bulldog’s powerhouse player Green shot the first basket for the team in the third sparking an 11-point run of three consecutive three-pointers from Monarez, Kimball and Kilburn.

The Cougars put up a fight with baskets from Jayce Eubanks, Rashaad Marshall and Rea. Dawes also went two for two from the charity stripe after two missed attempts earlier in the quarter. The team finished out the third trailing the Bulldogs, 45-39.

Cougar players attributed the team’s second half point deficit to a loss of concentration late in the game.

“I thought we played well in the first half but after they separated from us we lost some heart,” Cougars guard Dar Forneli said. “We didn’t stay together as much as a team.”

The Bulldogs took advantage of the Cougars’ loss of heart in the fourth quarter. Eltschinger, Kilburn and Monarez all delivered layups, and Eltschinger added the put-back for an eight-point scoring blitz.

With half of the last quarter left, the Cougars’ Eubanks sunk the jumper and went for a steal and the bucket. With the clock running out the Cougars attempted countless shots but just kept falling short, which allowed Southwest to build its 11-point lead.

“We started to lose focus, the ball just wasn’t bouncing in the rim like it should have,” Cougars forward Louis Hamel said.

Rea said his team could have scored the edge had they passed the ball to the team’s larger players.

“Some of our big men were open a lot, and if we could have gotten it to them we could have scored more in the paint,” Rea said. “We had good defense but we just couldn’t get it in the basket.”

Coach Lewis said the Bulldogs were able to take the win because they found their pace later in the game when the Cougars faltered.

“We started to run ragged, but after slowing down a little our shots were more in rhythm and we were able to get to the inside,” Lewis said.