Cougars Catch Fire in Third Quarter, Roll Past Don Bosco in Season Opener

Nicholas Mistretta

MHS ’79 Cougar Sports Correspondent

Montgomery opened its boys’ varsity basketball season in impressive fashion, using a dominant third quarter to pull away from Don Bosco Prep for a 66–47 victory on Monday night.

The Cougars, now 1–0, turned a tight four-point halftime lead into a comfortable cushion, outscoring the Ironmen 25–11 in the third period to seize control of the game.

Don Bosco (0–1) edged ahead 15–14 after the first quarter behind early scoring from JP Skoric, but Montgomery settled in during the second. The Cougars put up another 14 points while tightening defensively, taking a 28–24 lead into the break.

The game broke open after halftime.
Montgomery’s offense exploded in the third quarter, pushing the pace and knocking down shots from all over the floor to build a 53–35 advantage heading into the final frame. From there, the Cougars managed the clock and kept Don Bosco at arm’s length, matching them 13–12 in the fourth to close out the 19-point win.

Balanced attack fuels Montgomery
Mike Simborski powered Montgomery with 23 points, doing most of his damage inside the arc. He finished with nine two-point field goals and went a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, setting the tone with aggressive drives and consistent scoring in the lane.

Connor Benedict gave the Cougars a major boost from the perimeter, hitting seven three-pointers on his way to 21 points, stretching Don Bosco’s defense and helping key the decisive third-quarter surge.

Guard Ethan Lin added 16 points, including two three-pointers and an 8-for-10 performance at the free-throw line, providing steady scoring and composure in key moments. James Kamara chipped in 4 points, and Shriyans Mallavarapu added 2 to round out the scoring.

As a team, Montgomery finished with 13 two-point field goals, nine three-pointers and 13 made free throws (13-for-15), an efficient offensive night for an opening game.

Don Bosco’s Skoric leads all scorers in defeat
Don Bosco Prep was led by JP Skoric, who scored 26 points, combining strong finishing inside with a three-pointer and going 3-for-4 from the line. Jaylen Lewis knocked down four three-pointers for 12 points, while Antonio Tristani added 6 and Jamel Thomas Jr. hit a three for 3.

The Ironmen stayed within striking distance through the first half but struggled to match Montgomery’s offensive punch coming out of the locker room.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com