The Blackford Bruins Basketball program played host Friday night in a huge Conference showdown with the Madison Grant Argylls. The Bruins entered the game off a two-game win streak, defeating Rushville and North Knox in a Holiday Tournament at Shenandoah High School over winter break. Blackford and Madison Grant have had several matchups over the years, with Madison Grant having the upper hand in head-to-head matchups, winning 27 out of the 41 games over the last 35 years. The Bruins were looking to add another win in the conference and start to build momentum towards the stretch run of the season. Blackford was welcoming the return of Senior Forward Gavin Collett and Sophomore Forward Mason Kitterman. Collett has been out the entire season due to a fracture in his foot, while Kitterman sprained his ankle a couple weeks ago against Delta High School. Both players returned in limited minutes, looking to help stabilize the Bruins lack of depth over the first month of the season.
The Bruins started the game in a dominant fashion on the defensive end. Blackford knew one of the keys to the game was to limit transition opportunities for quick open 3's from Grant and guarding the perimeter in the half court. Blackford started the game playing stifling half court man-to-man defense, making it really difficult for Madison Grant to get great looks on the offensive end. Several of the Argylls possessions in the first quarter included loads of passes as they looked to find an opening vs Blackford's defense. The Bruins jumped all over Madison Grant in the first quarter, led by Senior Guard Ethan Morris.
Morris was able to get loose on multiple drives in the first quarter, displaying his speed to the rim vs Madison Grant's press, accelerating to the rim to shoot a lay-up. He also received a nice pass from Junior Guard Jacob Leas and took one hard dribble to finish with his right hand. The Bruins were able to get the ball inside to Senior Forward Vince Oxley, once on a nice post feed from guard Senior Wells and another on a nice pass from Morris to Oxley. Blackford also received multiple made 3-pointers in the first quarter. Junior Forward Gage Baker was able to drive to his right and find Morris wide open on the right wing as he drained a 3-pointer, giving him 7 of the teams 15 first quarter points. The Bruins had a 12-5 lead with about 20 seconds left in the first quarter, Blackford chose to hold the ball for the final shot of the quarter. Blackford ran a wing ball screen and Morris drove the into the lane drawing defenders before kicking it out to Kian Wells who drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to extend the lead to 15-5 to end the 1st quarter.
Blackford continued to dominate both ends of the floor in the 2nd quarter, limiting Grant's 3-point attempts and displaying strong rotations defensively, holding Grant to 13 first half points, as the Bruins finished the half with 28 points. Morris found Leas streaking up the floor for a lay-up to finish off the half. In the 3rd quarter, Madison Grant heated up from the perimeter, as the Bruins struggled to put the ball in the basket. Blackford missed several lay-up/paint shot opportunities from Baker, Oxley, Wells, and Leas in the 3rd quarter, as the Argylls were able to capitalize, raining five 3-pointers in the 3rd quarter. Teagan Yeagy, a guard from Madison Grant, entered the game averaging 15 points per game, shooting over 40% from the 3-point line, drilled three 3-pointers in the 3rd quarter, a couple attempts were from 28 - 30 feet. The Argylls outscored the Bruins 22-6 in the 3rd quarter, taking a 35 - 34 lead into the 4th quarter!
Blackford did not panic entering the 4th quarter down 1 point, after dominating the first half of the game. The Bruins started the 4th quarter with Leas making a nice drive downhill to his right hand but missed the lay-up and the Argylls capitalized extending their lead to 37-34 thanks to two made free-throws. On the next possession, Oxley had a really strong drive down to the right block, finding an opening to finish a basket. The Argylls then came up empty on the next possession, down 37-36 with about 6:45 remaining in the 4th, Junior Forward Gage Baker took over the game for the Bruins on the offensive end.
Baker's onslaught of drives for finishes started with him zig zagging behind Oxley's ball screen before finding an opening to finish with his right hand, giving the Bruins a 38-37 lead. On the next possession, Baker drove hard down hill to his left, but missed the lay-up, Oxley grabbed a huge offensive rebound (one of his several huge offensive rebounds in the 4th quarter) and drew a shooting foul. Oxley came up short on his free-throw attempts and the Argylls scored giving the Bruins a 39-38 deficit. On the next possession, Baker drove down the right side of the lane and made a beautiful pivot spin to finish with his left hand at the rim, giving the Bruins another lead 40-39. The Argylls were able to get the foul line and make 1 of the 2 free-throws, tying the game at 40. Baker then attacked the middle of the lane and finished a running floater to give the Bruins a 42-40 lead. Madison Grant was able to answer once again tying the score at 42. The Bruins went right back to Baker as he drove hard to the left block and stopped to bank in a shot with his right hand giving the Bruins a 44-42 lead. Blackford called time-out with 3:30 remaining up 44-42.
Out of the time-out, the Argylls were able to draw a foul and make 1 of the 2 free-throws. Blackford's next possession included a high ball screen for Baker as he drove hard to finish with his right hand, to put the Bruins up 46 - 43. The Argylls refused to go away, as the next possession Teagan Yeagy drained his 4th 3-pointer of the half, this one off the dribble on a step back, tying the game at 46. With 2:30 remaining in the 4th, Baker then drove down the left side of the lane and drew a foul, draining both free-throws, giving the Bruins a 48-46 lead. On the next possession, Baker then came up with a huge defensive play, knocking the ball away and diving on the floor for the steal, Baker tossed the ball up the floor to Morris who found Wells streaking up the floor for a wide open lay-up. Morris's pass was low to Wells and the ball was fumbled, Wells dove on the floor and the Bruins called time-out. Out of the time-out, the Bruins came up empty despite getting an open look, but came up with a stop vs the Argylls leading to Wells missing an open 3-point attempt, Oxley came up with another massive offensive rebound and finishing at the rim to give the Bruins a 4-point lead 50-46. It was one of the many huge plays by Oxley for the Bruins, helping the Bruins secure the victory. Blackford was able to hold off any late charge from Madison Grant despite missing some key free-throws late, defeating Madison Grant 53-48. The Bruins are now 7-4 overall and 2-1 in the Conference. They play host to non-conference opponent South Adams tonight!
Stats from Varsity game:
Gage Baker - 17 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Ethan Morris - 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Vince Oxley - 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals
Kian Wells - 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Jacob Leas - 3 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Mason Kitterman - 2 points, 1 rebound, 2 blocks
In Junior Varsity action, the Bruins played some of their best basketball of the season, defeating the Argylls 69-40. It was an impressive showing from the Junior Varsity, getting strong contributions from the majority of the roster. Kentral Toomer led the Bruins JV once again with a career high 24 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Reggie Duren scored his 3rd 20-point game of the year, scoring 21 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Jacob Dillon scored 7 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and had 3 blocks in two quarters of play! Mason McFeely had a strong game with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal. Jayveon McPhaul had his best game as a Bruin, contributing 6 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. Blackford will now host South Adams Junior Varsity tonight at 6:00 pm!
Thank you to Levi Grooms for the Pictures!
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