La Marque barely escapes the Eagles Nest with a win

January 30, 2010

PEARLAND — The La Marque Cougars are one of the top area-ranked teams in the Houston area and are undefeated in District 24-4A action. On the other hand, the Dawson Eagles are fighting for their playoff lives and head coach Mark Barre was confident that his hardcourt warriors could compete against the Cougars.

"We have lost some very close games this year and I am proud for the way my guys continue to battle," Barre said. "We know that we are still in a position to still make the playoffs even at 2-5 in district."

Barre believes that if his players can go 4-3 in district in the next round that they have a shot.

"The second half is in our favor as we play most of our games at home against some of the tougher teams," Barre said.

The game against La Marque came down to the final shot in regulation. Tied at 67-67 with only 31 seconds showing on the clock, the Cougars drove the length of the court and hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer to escape with a hard-fought 69-67 win.

Dawson stayed even with the Cougars for most of the game as Craig Grigsby and Anthony Miles had the hot-shooting hands with Grigsby scoring 23 points while Miles added 16.

Trailing 57-50 entering the final period, Dawson battled back to knot up the game at 65-65 while outscoring the visitors 15-8 down the stretch. After Miles tied up the game on a short jumper with 1:17 left in the contest, La Marque hit a pair of free throws to move ahead 67-67 with 47.8 seconds remaining in the game.

That's when Grigsby went to work against La Marque's pressing defense. With 31 seconds left in the game, the point guard dribbled his way through three players who were taking swipes at the ball and then found a small opening where he lofted a shot jumper that found the bottom of the net to tie up the game 67-67.

But there was plenty of time on the clock as La Marque worked their way to find the game-winner at the buzzer for the last second victory.

"I am really proud of the way my guys played," Barre said. "We had a great crowd of fans supporting us and La Marque knows they had to play their best to get a win."

La Marque went into the dressing room at halftime leading 35-33. La Marque came out in the third quarter with a 10-2 scoring run for a 45-35 lead, but the Eagles went on an 8-0 scoring run of their own to narrow the margin to 45-43 before the Cougars closed out the period with a 12-7 run and a 57-50 lead entering the final eight minutes.

Grigsby hit 10 field goals and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line while Miles hit a 3-pointer, three field goals and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. Piaget Gauthier also had a strong game hitting a pair of baskets and 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Jordan Rose hit a couple of 3-pointers.

Dawson was 20-of-25 from the free throw line as a team which is what kept them in the game.

La Marque used their quickness and took advantage of six 3-pointers from long range.

"We just have to stay focused and keep believing in each other," Barre said. ""We have finish out each game and not have a lull for one quarter like we did in the first round in games we should have won."

The Dawson players have a great passion for playing the game and no one had better take this group of roundballers for granted in the second half of the season.

Dawson 56 - Manvel 43

Dawson picked up an important win over the Manvel Mavericks 56-43 which gives them the tie-breaker heading into the second round.

After Manvel rolled to a 15-7 first quarter lead, Dawson steamrolled the Mavs 18-4 in the second period for a 25-19 lead at the intermission.

Both teams battled to a 12-12 tie in the third quarter giving the Eagles a 37-31 advantage down the stretch.

The Eagles continued their outstanding play outscoring the home team 19-12 to post the 56-43 victory.

Anthony Miles led all scorers with 19 points while Piaget Gauthier tossed in 13 and Craig Grigsby added 10 for the Eagles.

Terry Allen led Manvel with 14 and Kris Obaseki hit 12.

Dawson traveled to Angleton on Tuesday (late) and then will be on the road on Friday, January 29 to face Friendswood at 7:30 p.m. The Eagles will host Brasosport on Tuesday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m.

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