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Preps

Cougars stun Tornadoes

CLEARWATER -- Host Clearwater's bid for a perfect district and conference record was rejected Friday night when crosstown rival Countryside (13-11) stunned the Tornadoes (22-2) 66-62.

Clearwater, ranked No. 5 in the state Class 5A poll, couldn't finish a fourth-quarter comeback that saw the Tornadoes down by two with 30 seconds left.

Led by Julian Mascoll's 19 points, Countryside erased a first-quarter deficit. The teams started slowly, managing a 5-5 tie midway through the first. Clearwater took the momentum into the second, leading 13-8 at the first break.

Enter Mascoll.

On the opening inbound, Mascoll stole the ball and dunked to the Cougars fans' delight. Ten seconds later, he did it again, this time turning in the air before his dunk. Mascoll then deflected a rebound into the net.

On the Cougars' next possession, Tyson McEldowney appeared to be shooting for three, but it was an amazing alley-oop to Mascoll that brought Countryside fans to their feet.

Following the Cougars' 8-0 run, Clearwater got itself together, resulting in a 31-31 tie at halftime. Countryside came out and continued to dominate in the third, entering the fourth quarter with a seven-point lead.

Clearwater's Luke Postorino kept the game close, scoring 10 in the final quarter, including six free throws. Postorino led the Tornadoes with 14 points, 10 of them on free throws. Mike Beck added 13, and Jacob Loucks had 12.

After pulling within two, Clearwater fouled Kirby Hicks with 6.5 seconds left. Hicks hit both free throws to seal the victory.

"Tyson (McEldowney) and Kirby (Hicks) hit key free throws, and that's what kept us in there," Countryside coach Randall Leath said. "I'm not from around here, so the rivalry means nothing to me. We've played in front of big crowds, this is nothing to us."

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