The Herald-Zeitung

SAN ANTONIO — Canyon’s girls basketball team heads into its own Cougarette Classic with a 5-4 record after Tuesday’s 56-39 victory over Alamo Heights.

Joan Friesenhahn scored seven of her 11 points and had a critical 3-pointer, while Brittani Hackfeld had two big baskets in the final period for the Cougarettes.

“They put a box-and-1 on Katie Korioth in the fourth quarter, and the other girls came up big,” said Canyon coach Terry Tennell. The Cougarettes staged a big run for a 17-6 lead after the first period and led 31-21 at halftime.

Korioth went scoreless in the final period but still finished with 21 points. Hackfeld had 14 and Mariad Cocke had two critical free throws in the fourth to finish with four points. Kayley Gutierrez and Claire Gubernator each had three for Canyon.

The Cougarettes will open their own tourney at 8 p.m. Thursday against Seguin inside the Cougar Den.

Smithson Valley 75,

Highlands 50

SMITHSON VALLEY — The Smithson Valley Lady Rangers survived a rocky start and roared back to take a home victory over the Highlands Owls.

Highlands (3-5) took an early 12-2 lead but the Rangers quickly regained the upper hand with a 14-2 run for a 16-14 advantage by the end of the quarter. Smithson Valley led 36-26 at halftime and the Rangers (9-4) coasted the rest of the way.

Seniors Mallory Meyers and Megan Turk led all scorers with 15 points each; freshman Danielle Blagg had 12 and junior Colyn Billeaudeaux added 10 for Smithson Valley.

The Rangers will open the Cougarette Classic against Houston Second Baptist at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

BOYS

San Marcos 46, Canyon 30

SAN MARCOS — The Cougars are still experiencing growing pains, although they did come close to the Rattlers (3-1) a few times. Justin Kanas scored nine points and Sean Dailey had seven for the Cougars (0-3), who committed 16 turnovers.

Coach Kenny Rotzler said Canyon fell way behind in the early going and couldn’t fight its way back.

“It was the same sort of thing that happened the other day against Alamo Heights,” Rotzler said. “We were down by 16 in the first quarter and got it to 10 by halftime and then to eight in the third quarter. But they got some (baskets) at the end.

“It was another one of those cases where we dug ourselves a big hole and couldn’t dig out of it.”

Steven Blakely scored four points for the Cougars, who got three each from Ryan Mead and Dustin Foerster and two each by Chris Kues and Nick Garrison. The Cougars will play Austin Akins in the opening round of the Seguin Matador Classic at 9 a.m. on Friday.

Hays 81, Smithson Valley 54

BUDA — The Rangers fell to 1-4 this season with the loss. No other details were available. The Rangers will play Lockhart at noon Thursday in the opening round of the Seguin Matador Classic.