A dominant opening quarter gave Cahokia momentum, but Springfield flipped the game with a big second frame to win 67-62. Griffin and Raiford kept the Comanches close with strong two-way performances.
SPRINGFIELD - For one electric quarter, the Cahokia Comanches looked unstoppable, building a commanding 16-point lead. But a devastating second-quarter swing proved too much to overcome, as Springfield High School roared back to hand Cahokia a heartbreaking 67-62 non-conference road loss last Friday night.
The game turned on a dime in the second frame, where Springfield outscored the Comanches by nearly a 2-to-1 margin to erase the large deficit and take a 35-28 lead into halftime. Cahokia, showing resilience, spent the rest of the game chipping away. A valiant recovery effort kept the score close down the stretch, but the Comanches ultimately ran out of time, falling just short in the final minutes.
Senior leadership kept Cahokia in the fight. C'narri Griffin and Corrion Raiford shouldered the offensive load, each pouring in 18 points. Raiford completed a double-double by dominating the glass with 10 rebounds, while Griffin was a disruptive force on defense, leading the team with four steals and adding four assists.
Sophomore Douglas Edwards III provided key support with seven points. As a team, the Comanches posted strong effort stats with 28 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 steals, but could not find enough baskets to complete the comeback.
The loss drops Cahokia's early season record to 2-1 as they head into a grueling stretch of their five-game road swing. There is little time to dwell, as the team travels to face the Highland Bulldogs tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m., followed by a back-to-back game against the undefeated Belleville East Lancers (3-0) just 24 hours later.
Closing out the week, the Comanches head to Marion for the Wildcats' season opener on Friday before a three-day break from competition on the hardcourt.
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