For the second straight year the Connally High boys basketball team is hosting a summer basketball league at Cougar Gym. Just like last year, when the Cougars went undefeated and won the championship, the league features eight teams divided into two conferences. Games are played every Tuesday through the end of July with an eventual champion being crowned the final week of the season. Connally coach Marshall Sanders, the architect of the league said the experience of last year’s league made him want to do it again this year.

“I thought it went real well for us last year,” he said. “The kids don’t get to play together much in the summer. For us to get the chance to play together is huge.”

The Cougars have split their team up this year and have one squad in each conference. Joining them in the league are Hutto, Travis, Dripping Springs, Marble Falls, St. Stephens and Crockett. Six games are played every Tuesday, starting at 6 p.m. The games feature two 20-minute halves with a running clock. Fans of basketball are encouraged to attend. Sanders is hoping the league will give his team a chance to gel as they head into next year when they will join a new district and return to 4A.

“I want them to come together, get chemistry and get work and compete at a high level,” he said.

Things did not go so smoothly for the Cougars Black team in their opener against Hutto. Despite holding the lead at halftime the Cougars fell 44-43 to the Hippos. Dion Gaddy led Connally with 14 points. Marcel Pimpton scored 11 and Tony Standberry added eight for Connally.

The Cougars fell behind early but battled back behind the play of Pimpton and Gaddy to take a 16-10 lead. Standberry knocked down a 3-pointer and Blaire Anderson took a pass from Michael Egwagu to score two more points to push Connally’s lead to 21-11. The Hippos fought back and cut into their lead but the Cougars still led 23-20 at intermission.

Pimpton, Anderson and Gaddy all scored baskets to help Connally push their lead to 29-24 three minutes into the second half. Pimpton knocked down a couple free throws to keep the Cougar lead at four, but the Hippos, led by Denzel Bellinger’s four points, stormed back to tie the game and eventually take a 32-31 lead.

Standberry briefly returned the advantage to Connally by hitting a three but the 34-32 lead was the last one the Cougars would hold. The game was tied 40-40 with two minutes to play and free throws by Pimpton pulled Connally to within one at 44-43 with 50 seconds left to play. On the ensuing Hutto possession, Standberry stole the ball, giving the Cougars the chance to win. With four seconds remaining in the game Gaddy took a shot but could not get it to go down. The Hippos came up with the rebound on the miss to send Connally home with a loss.