The Blackford Bruins hosted Muncie Burris this past Thursday night for their final game of the 2023-2024 regular season. Blackford honored all of the senior athletes for various sports and activities before the game started, including the Bruins 4 senior basketball players Kian Wells, Ethan Morris, Vince Oxley and Gavin Collett (picture left to right). Blackford entered the game coming off a win Tuesday night at Eastern High School, the Bruins played some of their best basketball of the season Tuesday night at Eastern High School. Blackford started all four seniors along with Gage Baker vs the Burris Owls. A win Thursday night would guarantee the Bruins a winning season, a team goal that was set well in advance of the season.
Blackford jumped out to an early 25 - 11 lead over the Owls after the first quarter. The Bruins started the game in a full court press, Blackford capitalized on the Owls turnovers for easy baskets. Kian Wells led the Bruins with 10 points in the first quarter, he had multiple steals for open lay-ups and multiple passes up the floor from teammates for layups for the Bruins. The Burris Owls were able to settle down on offense in the 2nd quarter and played a 2-3 zone defense vs Blackford. The Bruins struggled to make shots in the 2nd quarter, settling for several open 3-point attempts that were not dropping, leading to some struggles on the offensive end for Blackford. The Bruins entered half-time with a 33-22 lead over the Burris Owls.
Blackford jumped all over Burris in the 3rd quarter, led by senior Vince Oxley. Oxley had been out the last two games with an ankle injury, he returned for senior night and the injury did not appear to limit him at all during the game. Oxley dominated the 3rd quarter, scoring 13 of his 15 points in the quarter with 5 offensive rebounds in the quarter. Blackford scored 29 points in the 3rd quarter, extending their lead to 62-33 entering the 4th quarter. Kian Wells continued to score for the Bruins throughout the night, leading to a career high 23 points in his final game at Bruin gymnasium. Wells finished 10 for 17 from the floor, hitting three 3-pointers, grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 4 assists and collected 2 steals in the Bruins victory. 3-year starting guard Ethan Morris was all over the floor for the Bruins, shooting the gaps to passing lanes several times throughout the night, finishing with a season high 6 steals. Morris had a very strong stat line with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 6 steals in his final home game. Senior Gavin Collett scored a nice basket on a floater and also grabbed a career high 8 rebounds with 3 assists. All four seniors played well in their final home game, helping lead the Bruins to their 13th win on the year. The Bruins defeated the Burris Owls 78-42. The only sour note from the night was Bruins leading scorer and rebounder Gage Baker went down with an ankle injury towards the end of the 3rd quarter. The injury puts a question mark around Baker's ability to participate in the first round of the sectionals. Blackford is now 13 - 10 on the year. The Bruins are 1 win away from matching the most wins in any season at Blackford (outside of the 4 year run with Luke Brown) since the 1985-1986 season. Blackford plays Wednesday night at Tipton High School vs Taylor for their sectional opener.
Varsity Game Stats:
Kian Wells - 23 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, & three 3-pointers
Ethan Morris - 15 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 steals & one 3-pointer
Vince Oxley - 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals
Jacob Leas - 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals & two 3-pointers
Gage Baker - 7 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals & one 3-pointer
Mason Kitterman - 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 block
Gavin Collett - 2 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Jacob Dillon - 3 rebounds
The Bruins Junior Varsity defeated Muncie Burris 61-34 to improve to 12 - 10 on the year. The Bruins JV finished the conference season 6 and 1 overall and the 12 total wins equals the total wins from the previous two seasons combined for Blackford's JV. It was a great season for the Bruins Junior Varsity, displaying solid improvement over the previous two seasons.
JV stats:
Kentral Toomer - 13 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals
Reggie Duren - 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals
Jacob Dillon - 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 steals
Mason McFeely - 7 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals
Eli Morgan - 7 points, 7 rebounds
Jacob Barry - 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Jayveon McPhaul - 3 points, 4 steals
Ryan Gorrell - 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
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