Basketball Recap: Ryan Thompson J.R.'s Big Game Can't Quite Lead Cook over Appling County

Cook was the 64-63 winner over Appling County when they last played one another two weeks ago, but their luck changed this time around. The Cook Hornets fell 63-52 to the Appling County Pirates on Thursday. The Hornets have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.

Several Hornets players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Ryan Thompson J.R., who went 11 of 14 en route to 27 points and six rebounds. The dominant performance gave Thompson J.R. a new career-high in points. Tucker Rountree was another key player, dropping a double-double on 11 points and 15 boards.

Appling County got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Nate Davis out in front who almost dropped a double-double on 17 points and nine rebounds. Another player making a difference was Aldarrius Howell, who posted nine points in addition to seven assists and five boards.

Cook's loss dropped their record down to 4-17. As for Appling County, their win ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 7-13.

Cook will face off against Pierce County at 7:30 p.m. on February 7th. Pierce County knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with 55 points or more in their past three contests -- so hopefully Cook likes a good challenge. As for Appling County, they wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next matchup, a 62-60 defeat against Tattnall County on the 1st.