After dropping its last three games, the Apopka boys basketball team got back on track Monday night against the University (Orlando) Cougars, winning a tight battle, 44-40.  

Apopka was able to prevail even with three important players missing due to injury. 

“We weren’t very good tonight, but we were good enough and made plays,” head coach Scott Williams said.  

The opening minutes belonged entirely to the Cougars, who scored the first four points of the game while Apopka struggled to shake loose from University’s tight, trapping man defense.  

Noah Ferrer opened the night with back-to-back steals on the first two defensive sets, but the Blue Darters couldn’t convert the extra possessions. University hit a free throw and a 3 to build an early lead, and Apopka was forced to call a timeout with 2:30 remaining without a point on the board. 

The tone of the game shifted in the final moments of the quarter. Xavier Bell jumped a passing lane for a steal and score as Apopka strung together four quick points to cut into the margin. After a grindy defensive period from both sides, University led just 9-4 at the end of the first quarter. 

The momentum swung fully toward the Blue Darters in the second quarter. After University opened with two free throws, Jarquavion McClain answered with a mid-range jumper from the left side. A Betancourt steal led to another McClain layup, and moments later a wild deflected pass rolled right into Bell’s hands, allowing him to knock down a 3 that cut the deficit to four. 

Apopka’s energy fed into its offense. After a Betancourt 3 then Ferrer steal, McClain scored in transition to tie the game at 16. Moments later, Trent Jean drilled a rhythm 3 from the wing to give Apopka its first lead of the night. The Blue Darters carried that surge into halftime, leading 21-18 after outscoring University 17-9 in the second quarter. 

Betancourt kept the momentum rolling out of the locker room with a contested 3 in the corner, but University responded with two quick buckets. Ferrer stepped up again, knocking down a 3-pointer before returning on the next possession to bury a deep wing 3 that pushed the Apopka lead to eight. University clawed back, turning turnovers into four points and hitting a 3 to pull within one. 

As the third-quarter buzzer sounded, Jean found Jacques Evariste alone at the top of the key for a 3 to give Apopka a 33-29 cushion heading into the fourth. 

Jean opened the final period with another wing 3, but University battled back with consecutive paint touches for four points. Two free throws pulled the Cougars within one before Apopka called a timeout with 5:24 left. University reclaimed the lead moments later with a transition 3 in the corner. 

McClain answered with a putback and later slashed through the lane for an easy lay-in with just over two minutes to play. After a University timeout and free throw, Apopka broke the Cougar press cleanly. Jean weaved through two defenders and hit McClain streaking up the court for a wide-open layup that pushed the lead back to four. 

University was forced to foul and although the Cougars added a free throw in the final seconds, Apopka closed it out to secure the 44-40 win. 

Williams said the team’s defensive effort was the difference, even as he stressed they still have plenty of room for improvement. 

“It took us a while to get going. Our defense created our offense,” Williams said. “Quite honestly, we should have won by 8, 9, 10 points. We didn’t do that. And those kind of things will get you beat.” 

McClain led the Blue Darters with 15 points, four rebounds and two steals. Betancourt finished with eight points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Ferrer and Jean each knocked down two 3s, with Ferrer adding five steals and Jean contributing five assists. 

Apopka (4-4) stays on the road to face Mount Dora (0-8) at 7 p.m. Thursday.