Columbia Academy had some compelling highs and devastating lows during the holiday action before the Cougars went back to a normal schedule this week.
Continuing on their torrid pace to begin the year, the Cougars (12-5) were dominant as the host of the Columbia Academy Holiday Classic.
Against a long and athletic Hillcrest Christian ball club Dec. 28, the Cougars were able to hold off the visitors thanks to a dominant performance by star forward Tate Duncan. The 6-foot-4 junior was electric in transition, had his way weaving in and out of Hillcrest’s half-court defense and dominated the glass for multiple second-chase opportunities en route to a 32-point performance. Ras Pace added 15 points while facilitating the offense, and Ethan Stringer chipped in five as the trio accounted for all but one of CA’s points in a 53-47 victory.
Duncan and Pace kept up the supremacy on the final day of the holiday action in a 90-50 win over East Rankin, with both setting new career highs in points. Duncan led the way with 34 points and Pace wasn’t far behind with 28. Stringer once again served as the No. 3 option and poured in 14 on the wing.
Head coach Dale Watts said the Cougars played well in the exhibition classic, but it wasn’t without cost.
“We had a really good win against Hillcrest, and (we) played extremely hard and extremely smart. East Rankin had some boys missing, and we had a good game there, but we had some bad luck,” he said. “Tate Duncan got hurt. He went up, somebody cut his feet out (from underneath him) and he ended up hitting on his back.”
The injury caused Duncan to sit out the Cougars next game, Jan. 3 at Simpson Academy, in which the Cougars certainly missed their star player in a 77-32 loss. The rivals had matched up 20 days previously, with Simpson barely pulling away at the end for a two-point victory, proving Duncan’s worth to the Cougars.
“With Tate out, Simpson having a really good team and a good home crowd, we just couldn’t hang with them. They were just stronger and faster than us him without him in there,” Watts said.
Pace had to shoulder much of the scoring load, accounting for 59 percent of CA’s offense with 19 points, while Stringer chipped in seven.
Duncan did return to the court Saturday, but Watts admitted the talented lefty was nowhere near 100 percent, and it showed as he scored a season-low 10 points in a 69-37 loss to Lamar Christian. Pace led the Cougars with 15 points, and Stringer and Cody Fortenberry each had four.
On Monday Watts said he was unsure if Duncan would play Tuesday night at home against Pontchartrain Christian (results unavailable at press time), and his availability going forward would be a fluid development.
“The game (Tuesday night) is not that important, and it just depends on how he is and how his rehab is. He’s going to have push through it to a degree, but I will rest him if he needs resting,” he said. “I’ll just have to see him in warmups and do what we have to do.”
Watts did say, though, he feels confident the rest of the Cougars could step up if Duncan can’t go this week or if he plays at less than 100 percent. The Cougars host Lamar School Thursday night and take on Leake Academy on the road Friday.
“It gives these other guys — we’ll call it opportunity, but it also puts the pressure on them that they have to step up and increase their game.”
Pictured Above: Cougars guard Ethan Stringer converts a layup at the rim against Hillcrest Christian. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
