Basketball Recap: Countryside Proves Higher State Rank Is No Mistake

Countryside hadn't done well against Gibbs recently (they were 0-3 in their previous three matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Wednesday. The Countryside Cougars took down the Gibbs Gladiators 48-33. Given the Cougars' advantage in MaxPreps' Florida basketball rankings (they are ranked 153rd, while the Gladiators are ranked 338th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.

Julia Smith was her usual excellent self, going 8 of 19 on her way to 22 points in addition to seven rebounds and five assists. The team also got some help courtesy of Kylee Moore, who went 5 for 10 on her way to 11 points and six rebounds.

Cougars

Assists

12/13/23 vs Pinellas Park	21
11/28/23 vs Seminole	17
01/08/25 @ Gibbs	16
11/30/23 @ Osceola	16
11/21/23 vs Cypress Creek	16

They weren't the only one working in the assists department: Countryside was working as a unit and finished the game with 16 assists. That's the most assists they've posted since back in December of 2023.

Countryside has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five matchups, which provided a nice bump to their 12-4 record this season. As for Gibbs, they dropped their record down to 3-8 with the defeat, which was their third straight at home.

Countryside didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next game, a 54-14 victory against East Lake on the 10th. As for Gibbs, they also wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next contest, a 58-23 loss against Evangelical Christian on the 10th.