Published on: Thursday, February 14, 2013

By Brandy L. Simms

ROCKVILLE – Montrose Christian avenged last year’s two-point loss to Coolidge on Saturday by posting a 53-30 home victory over the Washington public school.

Mark Williams, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, led the Mustangs with a game-high 21 points, and 6-foot-7 junior forward Therence Mayimba came in second with 14 points.

Montrose Christian led 26-17 at halftime but pulled away in the third quarter.

“This was a big game for us because they did beat us last year on their floor,” said Montrose Christian head coach Stu Vetter. “They’re one of the top teams in the area talent-wise.”

The game marked a homecoming for one Coolidge player.

Coolidge junior guard Kory Cooley spent his first two seasons of high school playing for Montrose Christian.

“He was on our JV team last year and dressed some for the varsity,” said Vetter.

Midway through the fourth quarter, while matched up against 6-foot-6 Baylor signee Ishmail Wainright, the 6-foot-2 Cooley stole the ball from the talented senior forward and glided in for a layup.

“Cooley knew the play, so he stole the pass and made the play,” said Vetter. “I told him he was going to do that.”

Cooley, who finished with four points, said it was bittersweet to play against the Mustangs.

“It was really fun coming back playing against my former teammates,” he said, “but didn’t get the win, unfortunately.”