The CAM Cougars boys basketball team earned a low-scoring win, defeating the Exira-EHK Spartans 54-33 Friday night. Although both teams defense’ were stingy, the Cougars found more consistent success. Although the Spartans battled to make it close in the third, CAM brought it in the fourth to pull away for their fourth consecutive win.

Neither offense found much success early on in the game. Both teams combined for 15 points in the opening quarter. It took nearly the first two minutes for the Cougars to grab the first two points of the game. This was in large part due to the way both teams defended. However, it was CAM who gained the slight edge. While the Cougars slowly started to pick up steam, the Spartans went through a bit of a drought early on, managing just a single three-ball. Meanwhile, CAM was able to find some balanced success in the paint. While Colin Bower scored the first six points of the game for CAM, six different Cougars tallied field goals in the second half as they opened up a 26-11 lead at the half.

Exira-EHK played their best basketball of the game in the third quarter. Josh Nelson scored six of his team leading 15 points in the thrid quarter to help chip away at the deficit. The Spartans were also able to drop a trio of long balls that brought the deficit to as little as six. However, the Cougars found their footing again halfway through the third and carried that momentum into the fourth. Bower knocked five field goals and three pointer in the fourth quarter to help CAM pull away. Gunnar Hogueison didnt finsish far behind with 13. Head coach Ian Hunt was happy with his team’s ability to stick with it despite the offense not always clicking.

Hunt was happy with the way his team defended the outside against a Spartan team know for shooting.

Heading into the postseason Hunt says its all about the details and carrying some momentum into round one.

The win moves the Cougars to an even 10-10 record on the year while Exira-EHK falls to 4-16. CAM will be back action Monday when they visit Ar-We-Va while the Spartans vist Red Oak on Tuesday night.