The Blackford Bruins traveled Tuesday night to Eastern High School to play their last road game of the 2023-2024 regular season. The Bruins entered the evening riding a 4 game losing streak. Blackford was looking to bounce back and stop the bleeding vs a very strong Eastern program, a team loaded with height and plenty of scoring. Eastern started 6'8" and 6'7" across their front court. The Bruins knew the Comets were better than what their 10-10 overall record indicated, as they have dealt with injuries to key players throughout their season. Blackford was playing again without their starting Center Vince Oxley as he is recovering from an ankle injury. Blackford moved up Sophomore Jacob Dillon from the Junior Varsity to help support their rotation without Oxley.
Blackford was able to get off to a tremendous start, thanks to their half-court man to man defense. The Bruins executed on the defensive end, making everything difficult for Eastern on the offensive end, leading to a 15-5 lead after the first quarter. The Bruins received scoring from 4 different players in the first quarter, including two early 3-pointers from Gage Baker, a 3-pointer from Ethan Morris, two baskets inside from Mason Kitterman and a basket from Kian Wells. Eastern started off in a match-up zone and the Bruins executed on the offensive end, breaking down the zone with great ball movement leading to open shots. The Bruins execution led to Eastern getting out of their zone and going to half-court man to man for the rest of the game.
In the 2nd quarter, the Eastern Comets were able to go on a run and tie the game at 17 apiece with about 3 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter. Blackford executed on the offensive end as Mason Kitterman finished twice inside on lay-ups and Kitterman drained a 3-pointer on a nice cross court skip pass from Gage Baker to extend their lead to 24-17. The Comets answered and scored a basket to pull the score within 5 points, 24-19 with about 30 seconds remaining in the half. Blackford held the ball for the last shot of the half and Gage Baker received a high ball screen and drove the ball down the right side of the lane and kicked the ball to Gavin Collett in the left Corner. Collett was able to put the ball on the floor and drive towards the elbow before he found Jacob Leas out at the top of the floor just inside the volleyball line, Leas let it fly from deep and drained it to give the Bruins a 8-point lead at the half, 27-19.
In the 3rd quarter, the Comets outscored the Bruins 15-12, as Blackford entered the 4th quarter with a 39-34 lead. The Bruins had two more made 3-pointers in the 3rd quarter from Baker and Leas. Kian Wells scored a couple baskets on drives, one of Wells drives was a nice pivot spin in the lane for a basket. Wells also made a nice heistation move in transition on the 6'8'' Comet to finish with his left hand. Ethan Morris also scored a basket on a drive to the left side of the basket. The Bruins controlled the 4th quarter earning a 58-50 victory on the road. Kian Wells drained a 3-pointer in the 4th quarter, Ethan Morris, Mason Kitterman and Gavin Collett all scored a couple baskets to help finish off the Comets. Morris played a strong 4th quarter as the Bruins were able to spread out of the Comets and he attacked to create baskets for himself and teammates. Gavin Collett made a nice pivot on a drop off pass from Morris to finish over the Comets height. Morris hit the only two free-throw attempts by the Bruins with 11 seconds left to help ice the game. Blackford is now 12-10 on the year and will play Thursday night at home vs Muncie Burris for their final home game of the year.
Stats from Varsity Game:
Mason Kitterman - 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and one 3-pointer
Ethan Morris - 11 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 1 charge taken and one 3-pointer
Kian Wells - 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist and one 3-pointer
Gage Baker - 9 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks and three 3-pointers
Jacob Leas - 6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and two 3-pointers
Gavin Collett - 4 points, 1 rebound
Jacob Dillon - 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block
Blackford's Junior Varsity defeated the Eastern Comets 64-44 Tuesday night to earn their 11th win on the year. The Bruins Junior Varsity is now 11-10 overall on the season. Blackford plays Muncie Burris Thursday night for their final game of the year. The Junior Varsity tips off at 6:00 pm.
Stats from JV game:
Reggie Duren - 17 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists
Kentral Toomer - 16 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals
Jayveon McPhaul - 9 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals
Elijah Morgan - 8 points, 7 rebound, 2 blocks
Mason McFeely - 7 points, 7 rebounds, 4 asissts, 4 steals
Jacob Barry - 4 points, 1 steal
Ryan Gorrell - 3 points, 1 rebound
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