WARDEN - The Cougars are looking to establish themselves as a team to be reckoned with in the 1A SCAC Conference this season.

But Warden has gotten off to a slow start as the team has dropped two of its first three game.

Fortunately, the contests were against nonleague opponents, so the games will have no bearing on the league standings.

Warden 37

Kittitas 35

The Cougars got off on the right foot with a 2-point win over the visiting Coyotes Nov. 30.

Warden jumped out to a 12-4 lead after the first quarter of action and led 17-12 at the break.

Kittitas hung 23 points on the board to the Cougars 20, but it wasn't enough to pull off an upset on the road.

Garritt Marks led the way for Warden with 12 points and 16 rebounds.  Jerry Reyes added 11 points and 10 boards and Nate Cole finished with 7 points and 5 assists.

"Both teams had some rusty shooting, but in traditional rivalry games you can throw out the stats," coach Wes Richins said. "It was a ugly, messy game, but it was also a battle."

Granger 68

Warden 46

Warden found the going rough in its second game of the season as they lost to the Spartans by 22 points on the road Dec. 4.

Granger jumped out front 15-10 at the end of the first 12 minutes of play and took a 36-25 lead into the locker room at the half.

A 14 to 12 run by the Cougars in the third quarter kept Warden within reach, 48-39, but a 20 point fourth quarter by the Spartans was the teams' undoing.

"We were right there with them until the fourth quarter, when they pulled away," Richins said. "We shot the ball pretty well, but just had too many turnovers (26)."

Marks was high scorer once again for Warden with 18 points. He also pulled down 8 rebounds. Reyes knocked down 13 points and added 6 boards, and Louie Reyes and Nate Cole finished with 6 points. The loss to Granger dropped the Cougars to 1-1.

Naches 62

Warden 39

The Cougars trailed by 8 points to start the game on the short end of the scoreboard against the Rangers at home Friday in their third contest of the young season.

Naches took a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter of play, and was up 28-20 at intermission. Warden scored 19 second half points, but the Rangers drained 34 to win convincingly.

"We got down early and slowly came back to get within six in the third quarter, but they pulled away from us," Richins said. "Their size and quickness hurt us, and again we turned the ball over too much, and against a real good team, that will kill you." 

Marks led the Cougar offensive output with 16 points. He added 8 rebound sand 3 blocks.

Warden was back in action Tuesday, but the results were not available at press time.

The Cougars open league play at home against Kiona-Benton, then hit the road Saturday to take on River View.