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Darryl Simbulan (front) led the Jets with 17 points in their 65-51 loss to the Campolindo Cougars.

The Encinal Jets' men's basketball team put up a valiant effort, but it was not enough to overcome the Campolindo Cougars Monday night at the Nail House.

The contest would best be described as a game of runs. The Jets went on an 11-2 run early, driven by their 1-3-1 defense easy baskets, including a 3-pointer from guard Daron Owens.

However, the Cougars clawed their way back with an 11-0 run of their own, which included a 3-pointer from forward Matt O' Reilly that tied the game at 15. The Cougars led 16-15 at the end of the first quarter.

Encinal tied the game at 24 midway through the second quarter, but the Cougars took the lead back with a 7-0 run, powered by offense rebounds and put-backs. "I thought it was a combination of their size and technique," said Encinal head coach Jonathan Canalin of Campolindo's offensive rebounding. "We tried to fight them, but they really got on the boards and just got the loose balls."

However, the Jets closed the gap with a 3-pointer from Byron Buckley and a lay-up from Darryl Simbulan. The Cougars maintained their onepoint lead, 31-30 at the half.

The third quarter belonged to the Cougars as they started the quarter on a 14-2 run. Campolindo penetrated Encinal's zone defense and made lay-up after lay-up including one by Rob Wirth that gave the Cougars a 42-31 lead.

The Jets closed the gap to 50-45 early in the fourth quarter when the Cougars' 15-3 run put the game away for good. Cougar forward Justin Dunn made back-to-back layups, giving them a 65-48 lead late in the fourth quarter. The Jets lost 65-51 in the end.

"I thought we played well in the first half," said Canalin. "But in the second half we kind of fell behind, then we didn't shoot the ball well and turned the ball over too much. Give Campolindo credit; they played well."