Cougars hope for late push in title bid

By TODD HVEEM
CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT
With all the talk surrounding Cy Woods, Langham Creek and Cy Falls, the Cy Creek Cougars quietly found themselves only one game back of the District 15-5A lead with two games left to play.
I told our guys we have been flying under the radar,'' said Cy Creek head coach Ron Thomson. But that is not a bad place to be.''
Cy Creek could have tied Cy Woods for the District 15-5A lead had it not been upset by Cy Lakes last week.
Now, entering the final two games of the year, Cy Woods was first at 9-2, followed by Cy Creek at 8-3. The two teams are scheduled to conclude the regular season against one another at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cy Woods High School.
I would love to see it come down to the last game vs. Cy Woods,'' Thomson said. Our goal is to be district champions. We have battled, played hard and done what we have to do.
(Cy Woods head coach) Chris Draudt is a good friend of mine,'' added Thomson. It would be a great district-championship game.''
Langham Creek, Cy-Fair and Cy Falls also were in the playoff hunt entering the final two games of the season.
I have said all along that we are as good as any of the best teams in the district,'' Thomson said. I think people were underestimating us at the beginning of the year. A lot of people had us picked fourth or fifth.''
Thomson said splitting the 10-team district into two zones has had very little affect on the district race.
At first, all the talk was how the other zone was the tough zone,'' Thomson said. They said they would be beating each other up and the guys in the other zone would be hiding.
But you can make an arguement that we have had the tougher zone,'' he added. We have beaten Cy Falls, Cy Springs, Langham Creek and Cy Ranch. The only team we haven't beaten in the other zone is Cy Woods. We haven't played them yet.''
Cy Creek, which entered its last two games 18-7, is led by guards Rashaun Riley and Robert Goffney, and 6-foot-6, 285-pound center Cameron Fleming.
Riley is headed to Carnegie-Mellon, Goffney is being recruited by Iowa Central Junior College and Fleming has earned a football scholarship to Stanford.
We have three guys who are going to play college ball of some sort,'' Thomson said. That is pretty good.''
Ross Howard and Joseph Munoz also have been capable double-digit scorers most of the season.
We have more striking power from the perimeter than most teams,'' Thomson said.
But, do the Cougars have enough to make a long playoff run?
I told our guys there are certain things you have to have to be a strong playoff team,'' Thomson said. You have to have a couple strong guards, you have to have good shooting and you have to have a good inside presence. I think we have all of that. If we catch fire, we can win several games. If we play like we can, I think we can make it to the regional tournament.''
Cy Creek has lost close games to Spring and Klein Forest. It also owns two close victories over Klein, and has beaten Nimitz, Memorial, Katy and Clements.
We want to win a district title,'' Thomson said. I think if we keep doing what we have been doing, we have a good shot. You don't win eight games in a row by luck. The kids have done a good job. We just have to keep the ball rolling.''