The Clark Cougars stepped into Dennis Bettis Gymnasium this past Saturday for a non-conference showdown against the Woodward Bulldogs. In a fast-paced, back-and-forth first half, the Cougars battled with intensity and clawed their way to a six-point halftime deficit. Despite generating strong scoring opportunities, Clark struggled at the free-throw line—a cold stretch that proved costly and ultimately prevented them from taking control of the game. At the break, Woodward held a 30–24 advantage.
Coming out of halftime, the Cougars made an early push, slicing the lead down to four and creating a chance to bring it to a one-possession game. However, continued free-throw woes kept Clark from closing the gap. Woodward responded with increased defensive pressure, applying full-court traps that sped Clark up and forced turnovers. The Bulldogs capitalized, converting those mistakes into easy transition points that shifted the momentum firmly in their favor.
Woodward senior Bryce Lively delivered a dominant performance, finishing with 20 points and 21 rebounds, providing the spark that ultimately sealed the Bulldogs’ victory.
Now 0–2, Clark Montessori looks to regroup and reset as they return home for their first home game of the season. The Cougars will square off against Withrow on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Cougars Den, where they hope to find a much-needed spark from their home crowd.