By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Talan Cook has shown a knack for all sorts of production for several years with Southern Alamance’s boys’ lacrosse team. That has risen to special levels for the senior attackman.
“He had to carry the team a lot last year,” Southern coach Jack Winn said. “Now he has a supporting cast around him, and he has confidence in his defense and is playing a lot more loose and is not scared to try things.”
Cook ranks among the program’s all-time leaders in career points, goals and groundballs. By season’s end, he might own all the school’s career and/single-season scoring records.
“We all know each other outside of lacrosse,” Cook said of the team’s camaraderie.
He’s part of the Patriots’ winningest season. Southern (16-4) is set for its third winning season since the program was launched in 2012.
Midfielder and faceoff specialist Tustin Johnson, a sophomore who already dots the program’s records chart, said the combination with Cook has developed since youth lacrosse.
“We kind of have chemistry,” Johnson said. “We built chemistry up.”
Winn has been with the coaching staff since 2013. The Patriots notched their program’s first victory in a state-playoff game last year.
Participation has risen, with 34 players in the program – an increase of about 10 from last year. The roster is stocked with returning players, with Winn saying the continuity has been beneficial.
“And we’ve got guys who came up from middle school who are able to help us (as freshmen),” Winn said. “We’re getting there with the depth.”
Cook, who became Southern’s first junior to be a captain last season, said the Patriots have bonded on and off the field.
They won nine games the past two seasons combined.
“The past two years have been rough and this is great to have for the senior year,” Cook said.
Johnson said the level of intensity in practices has helped the Patriots excel. That’s necessary because other top teams in the region are aware of Southern’s potential firepower.
“Now they actually prepare for us,” Johnson said.
Game results …
In last Thursday’s 18-7 victory against visiting Western Alamance, Cook notched five goals, JC Dehart posted four goals and A.J. Ray had three goals. The Patriots scored three goals in the first 79 seconds and led 14-2 at halftime. Corben Bowen had all seven of Western’s goals.
On Monday, Cook had five goals and two assists as the Patriots trampled visiting Cedar Ridge 16-6. Johnston’s four goals, two assists and 11 groundballs along with two goals apiece from Trey Dehart and J.C. Dehart also helped.
Then came Tuesday’s 18-2 cruising at Southeast Alamance, with Johnson notching six goals and two assists and Cook supplying four goals and three assists. Trey Dehart added three goals and two assists.
- Southeast won for the third time this season with last Thursday’s 7-0 decision at Eastern Guilford. Anthony Biondo’s three goals and Aiden Green’s two goals led the way, while goalie Logan Deal made nine saves.
- Williams whipped visiting Western 16-3 on Friday before Monday’s 12-3 home loss to Seaforth and Tuesday’s 4-3 home victory vs. Northwood.
