The Blackford Bruins Basketball program traveled last Friday evening to play against Conference rival Oak Hill for their final game in the Central Indiana Athletic Conference for the 2023-2024 season. The Bruins entered the game coming off back to back losses vs the Jay County Patriots and Tipton Blue Devils. Despite coming off a loss most recently vs the # 1 ranked Tipton Blue Devils, Blackford entered Friday night with confidence as they played some of their best basketball of the season on the offensive end vs Tipton, hanging with the Blue Devils for most of the game. The Blackford Bruins and Oak Hill Golden Eagles both entered Friday night looking for their 4th win in the Conference on the season.
At the start of the game, both teams struggled on the offensive end, as the Bruins were finally able to score the first basket of the game as Ethan Morris found Vince Oxley on the right block to take a 2-0 lead. The lead would not last long, as Oak Hill rattled off the next 5 points to quickly take a 5-2 lead. Blackford was able to retake the lead 6-5 after Vince Oxley drove from the foul line area to finish on the left side of the basket. Oak Hill answered draining a 3-pointer giving the Bruins a 2 point deficit (8 - 6) to finish the quarter. The Bruins really struggled to put the ball in the basket during the first quarter vs the Golden Eagles match-up zone defense.
During the 2nd quarter Oak Hill was able to take control of the game quickly jumping ahead 12 - 6. The Bruins were really struggled with their passing vs Oak Hill's defense, as their ball movement and player movement was really stagnant making it difficult for the Bruins to generate offense in the half court. Kian Wells drove down the left side of the lane before pulling up for a shot from about 13 feet, the shot hit off the back of the rim and the ball was deflected out to the left corner to Mason Kitterman. Kitterman was able to find Oxley under the basket for a right handed lay-up to pull the Bruins with 4 points, 12 - 8. On the next possession Blackford struggled to block out as Oak Hill missed a 3-point attempt, the missed block outs resulted in Oak Hill collecting the offensive rebound and finishing an open lay-up on the right block. Blackford called time-out down 14-8. Out of the time-out the Bruins ended up turning on the ball over on an errant pass and the Golden Eagles went coast to coast for another lay-up attempt. On the attempt Kian Wells fouled the Golden Eagles and sent Oak Hill to the free-throw line, both attempts dropped to give the Golden Eagles a 16-8 lead. On the next Bruins possession Blackford executed a flare screen as Morris was able to screen off the Golden Eagles defender and Gage Baker delivered a pass out top to Jacob Leas as he drained a 3-pointer to pull the Bruins within 5 points, 16-11. Leas's 3-pointer ended up being the only made 3 on the night for the Bruins. Oak Hill would answer as they drove the lane and dished it off for another lay-up. Blackford scored on their next possession, with Ethan Morris driving left baseline before finding Mason Kitterman on the right block for an open lay-up. Blackford was then able to collect a stop on the defensive end, down 18 - 13. Jacob Leas pushed the ball up the middle of the floor off the defensive rebound before finding Gage Baker on the left wing, Baker put the ball on the floor and attacked the lane before finding Morris on the right wing for an open 3-pointer. The 3-point shot by Morris hit the back of the rim and the Golden Eagles retrieved the defensive rebound and passed the ball up the floor for another open lay-up for the Golden Eagles. Gage Baker was then able to draw a shooting foul and made one of his two free-throw attempts, the Bruins were down 20-14. The Golden Eagles next possession resulted in another lay-up off an offensive rebound. Gage Baker was then able to match the Golden Eagles with an offensive rebound put back of his own, to pull the Bruins within 6 points, 22-16. The Golden Eagles again hurt the Bruins on the offensive boards, collecting another rebound put-back to give them a 24-16 lead. The Bruins had the ball with about 1 minute remaining in the 2nd quarter, down 24 - 16. Blackford turned the ball over, leading to another Golden Eagles chance at scoring, the Golden Eagles scored again on another offensive rebound put back to give the Bruins a 10-point deficit 26-16 at the half.
Blackford needed to play much sharper on the offensive end with their passing and cutting in the second half, along with cleaning up their defensive rebounding to hang with the Golden Eagles. Oak Hill started the 2nd half on fire, hitting six 3-pointers in the 3rd quarter and draining their first 7 shots of the quarter as they buried the Bruins. The final 3-pointer of the quarter was at the buzzer to give the Golden Eagles a 53-28 lead. Blackford struggled to put the ball in the basket for the entire game, ending the game shooting 1-14 from the 3-point line. Vince Oxley was one of the lone bright spots for the Bruins on the offensive end, finishing several baskets inside around the basket on put backs and passes from teammates. Oxley finished the game with a career high 16 points, while adding 7 rebounds in the loss. Oak Hill defeated the Blackford Bruins 62-37, making the Bruins 11 - 9 on the year and 3 - 4 overall in the Conference. Blackford will return to the hardwood Tuesday night at home vs Northwestern.
Stats from Varsity game:
Vince Oxley - 16 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal
Mason Kitterman - 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Gage Baker - 5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks
Jacob Leas - 4 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist & one 3-pointer
Ethan Morris - 2 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Kian Wells - 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal
Gavin Collett - 2 rebounds
The Blackford Bruins Junior Varsity defeated Oak Hill's Junior Varsity 47-42. The win finishes the Bruins Conference record to 6 - 1 for the 2023-2024 season! Blackford fell behind early, as turnovers were a major issue early in the game for the Bruins. Blackford returned in the 2nd half, turning up the defensive pressure. Mason McFeely, Kentral Toomer, and Reggie Duren applied pressure at the top of the floor for the Bruins, creating loads of steals for the Bruins. Jacob Dillon cleaned the glass for much of the night, finishing the game with 15 rebounds. Blackford's JV is now 10 - 9 on the year (6 - 1 in the Conference!), as they prepare to play Tuesday night at home vs Northwestern.
Stats from JV game:
Mason McFeely - 15 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals
Kentral Toomer - 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals
Reggie Duren - 10 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 steals
Jacob Dillon - 7 points, 15 rebounds
Eli Morgan - 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 3 blocks
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