The Connally Cougars go into almost every game facing a size disadvantage. Their tallest starter is DarRenaldo Hall, a 6-foot-2-inch jumping jack, who consistently squares off against much taller post players by using his quickness and athletic ability.

When the Cougars played the Westlake Chaparrals, who are probably the biggest team in Central Texas, many figured it would be a struggle to keep the game close since the Chaparrals feature a starting frontline that consist of two 6-foot-6-inch forwards in Connor Kemper and Drew Wikelius. They also have 6-foot-9-inch center in Gus Leeper and 6 foot 2-inch guard in Cody Doolin, who is considered one of the top players in Central Texas. Leeper and Doolin have already sign scholarships to play Division I basketball and Kemper will probably sign with a Division I school in the spring.

The determined Cougars battled the Chaparrals to the end but came up short, losing to the state-ranked Chaparrals 58-57. However, everyone in the crowd had to admire the effort and determination that Coach Marshall Sanders’ Cougars put forward.

“I thought that our kids played hard and I’m proud of the way they played, but we do not take moral victories because we have to get better,” Sanders said. “I thought we took a step forward tonight. We played better than we did against Akins, but we are in this to win it and are not satisfied with playing Westlake close.”

In the early going, the Cougars jumped out to a 4-0 lead following back-to-back baskets by Hall.

The Chaparrals were able to take the lead behind the play of Kemper, who scored their first 11 points. The Chaparrals went up for the first time off a 3-pointer from Kemper, making it 11-9. The Chaparrals continued to pull away the rest of the quarter behind the strong inside play of Carl Meyertons, who scored five points at the end of the quarter to give the Chaparrals a 24-15.

At the beginning of the second quarter, the Cougars cut into the Chaparrals lead behind the play of Lindsey Wilson. With the Chaparrals leading by nine points, Wilson scored on a drive to the basket and then knocked down a 3-pointer to make the score 26-22. Following three Chaparrals free throws, Syvon Reagan and Jhordan Mason nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to make the score 29-28. However, the Chaparrals went on a 7-0 run to close the quarter with a 36-28 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, the Chaparrals increased their lead to 41-28 before the Cougars got back on track.

Led by the play of Mason, Wilson, Hall and Terres Wilson, the Cougars went on a 15-5 run to make the score 46-43. The Chaparrals scored the next four points before Hall scored a basket at the end of the quarter to make the score 50-45.

In the fourth quarter, the Cougars shaved the Chaparrals lead to 52-50 following a jumper by Stephen Manago. Following a Doolin jumper, the Cougars answered with a 3-pointer by Manago bringing them within one at 54-53. The Chaparrals increased their lead to 58-53 before Hall hit three free throws making the score 58-56. Connally had a chance to tie the game but missed a crucial free throw.

Hall led the Cougars in scoring with 15 points and Mason followed with 10 points. The Chaparrals were led in scoring by Kemper with 20 points.

The Cougars dropped to 7-9 overall and 0-2 in district play, while the Chaparrals improved to 17-4 overall and 2-0 in district play.