The Blackford Bruins traveled to Shenandoah High School to participate in the Shenandoah Raiders Christmas Classic Friday night and Saturday afternoon. The Bruins were scheduled to play 3 Varsity games vs various teams from all over the state of Indiana. The Bruins started Friday night vs Indianapolis Lutheran, a school that has had a ton of success over the last few years, including 3 straight state championships on the football field. The Lutheran Saints made a run to the 1A state finals last season, winning the 1A Basketball State Championship. Blackford knew they would have their hands full in their attempt to pull off the upset. Blackford entered the weekend down another player, as Mason Kitterman sprained his ankle Tuesday vs Delta High School and is out indefinitely.
Blackford started the game off strong, despite several careless turnovers, they were able score 12 first quarter points, with balanced scoring from the Bruins, Blackford finished the first quarter down 13-12. Blackford stepped up and played really good basketball for the majority of the 2nd quarter, even capturing the lead as Jacob Leas Hit back to back threes, giving him three made 3's in the first half. Blackford's lead was short lived, as Lutheran made a run in the final couple minutes of the half to take a 35-28 lead at half.
In the 2nd half, Blackford hung tough with Lutheran for the majority of the game, falling behind by 10 points, but came storming back into the game, as guard Kian Wells, Ethan Morris, and Gage Baker provided scoring in the 2nd half. Wellls was able to drive and finish three times in the 2nd half, along with drawing fouls and making four free-throws. Ethan Morris hit a 4th quarter 3-pointer, Jacob Leas hit his 4th 3-pointer of the game in the 4th quarter, and Gage Baker drilled two more 3-pointers during their 4th quarter run. Baker was in foul trouble for much of the first half, but returned in the 2nd half playing to hit three 3-pointers and score 15 points in the 2nd half. The Bruins displayed great character in the game despite falling 66-62 to the 1A defending State Champs Lutheran Saints.
Stats from Lutheran game:
Gage Baker - 18 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals & three 3-pointers
Jacob Leas - 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals & four 3-pointers
Kian Wells - 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal
Ethan Morris - 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and one 3-pointer
Vince Oxley - 5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, & 1 block
Jacob Dillon - 2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block
Game two for the Bruins was played Saturday morning at 10:00 am vs Rushville. The Rushville Lions entered the game winless on the season and hungry for a win. Both teams really struggled for the majority of the first half, as both teams turned the ball over countless times, Blackford ended the first half down 17-14 vs Rushville. The Bruins were looking to find a way to earn a victory in the 2nd half and turn around their sloppy play in the first half.
To start the 2nd half, Blackford fouled Rushville and fell behind 18-14. The Rushville Lions were able to get another possession at extending their lead, the shot jarred off the rim and Gage Baker found Jacob Leas streaking up the left sideline where he stopped on a dime and shot a 3-pointer, draining his 2nd of the game. The 3-pointer pulled the score to within 1 point, 18-17, but on the very next possession, the Lions were able to drain a 3-pointer of their own to extend the lead back to four points 21-17. Blackford came up empty on the next possession, the Lions brought the ball up the court and made a pass to the wing where Kian Wells was able to steal the pass and get loose into transition for a basket to cut the lead to 21-19 Lions. The Lions were able to hit another free-throw to extend the lead to 22-19, on the next possession, Kian Wells drove left baseline, pivoted and found Leas on the right wing, delivering a perfect pass and Leas let another one fly from 3, making his 3rd of the game to tie the score at 22. The Lions were then able to score the next two baskets to extend the lead to 4 points again 26-22. Gage Baker drove hard downhill to the right side to finish a bank shot to pull the Bruins within 2 points again 26-24. At the end of the 3rd quarter, the Bruins had a chance to tie the game, as Baker's mid-range pull-up jump shot fell short and the Lions scored to end the 3rd quarter up 28-24.
The Bruins gave up another basket to start the 4th quarter, falling behind 30-24, before Morris drove right baseline and found Oxley at the top of the key, Oxley pivoted and found Leas running behind him to the right wing, Leas let another one go from the deep right wing, draining the 3-pointer to pull the Bruins within 3 points, down 30-27. The Lions were able to execute and score, taking a 5-point lead 32-27, before Ethan Morris made a nice drive into the lane and found Gage Baker wide open on the left block for a lay-up. Down 32-29, the Bruins were able to collect a steal, as Leas knocked the ball away and Baker scooped up the ball to deliver a pass up to a streaking Leas who went in for a left-handed lay-up and was knocked to the floor while in the air. The personal foul was called on the floor, so the Bruins took the ball out under their own basket and came up empty on the scoring opportunity. The Lions scored again extending their lead to 34-29. Blackford had the ball under their own basket, where they executed an out of bounds play finding Baker cutting to the right block to finish an and-1. The 3-point play by Baker pulled the Bruins to within two points, 34-32. Blackford was able to get the stop they needed, and on the next possession, Morris drove hard left baseline and just missed a bunny at the rim and the Lions secured the rebound. Rushville started dribbling the ball up the floor thru traffic and Leas was able to knock the ball away from the Lions and Baker scooped up the loose ball and threw a pass up the floor to Morris on the left wing who instantly swung the ball to the left corner to Leas who quickly let it fly from the deep corner to drain his 5th 3-pointer of the game, giving the Bruins their first lead in since early in the 2nd quarter 35-34, with about 1:50 remaining in the game. The Lions then held the ball on the next possession for over a minute and ended up getting in the lane to score a basket, putting them back up 36-35. Blackford then proceeded to give the ball to Morris, who drove hard right baseline and got to the rim and missed another short bunny, the ball jarred off the rim and Morris jumped up snagging the offensive rebound. Morris was falling out of bounds off the offensive rebound, but he was able in midair turn his body and save it to to Jacob Dillon under the basket who kicked it out to Kian Wells, Wells instantly swung the ball out top to Gage Baker, who drained the biggest 3-point shot of his career, giving the Bruins a 38-36 lead with about 15 seconds left. The Lions drove the ball up the floor and attacked the basket before getting the ball knocked out of bounds under their own basket with 4 seconds remaining. Rushville attempted an alley oop play in front of the middle of the basket that came up short and the Bruins secured a victory!
Stats from Rushville Game:
Jacob Leas - 15 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 4 steals and five 3-pointers
Gage Baker - 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and one 3-pointer
Kian Wells - 6 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals
Ethan Morris - 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists
Jacob Dillon - 2 points, 2 rebounds and 1 steal
Vince Oxley - 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals
Reggie Duren - 1 rebound
In the 3rd and final game of the tournament (2nd game of the day on Saturday), the Bruins faced off vs North Knox. The Bruins turned around and played at 1:00 pm, a very quick turnaround, vs a team that was playing their 2nd game of the tournament and first game of the day on Saturday. Blackford was able to get off to an early start, finding a streaking Ethan Morris for 4 wide open lay-ups up the floor, jumping out to an early lead of 11-8 after the first quarter.
In the 2nd quarter, both teams struggled to get much going on the offensive end, as the Bruins entered half-time with a 20-18 lead. Ethan Morris was the lone Bruin who was able to produce any made field goals in the 2nd quarter, outside of Jacob Leas hitting a 3-pointer. Morris had 3 really nice drives in the 2nd quarter, attacking the defender and making pivots in the lane to get his shot off to score. At half-time, Morris had scored 14 of the Bruins 20 total points.
In the 2nd half, the scoring picked up from other Bruins, led by Junior guard Jacob Leas. Leas was able to get hot again from the perimeter, draining three more 3-pointers in the 3rd quarter, including a massive 4-point play that extended the Bruins lead to 8 points 27-19. Leas scored 12 of the Bruins 14 third quarter points, helping the Bruins keep their lead heading into the 4th quarter 32-30. Leas drilled 4 more 3-pointers vs North Knox, giving him 13 total made 3-pointers during the 3 tournament games, including 13-24 shooting from the 3-point line over the last 3 games (55%). Leas has now made three or more 3-pointers in each of his last 5 games.
In the 4th quarter, the Bruins received huge baskets from Vince Oxley. Oxley had a strong up and under move inside the paint and then faked a hand-off to Morris and drove downhill to the right to finish at the rim. Late in the game, the Bruins were able to milk some clock, as Morris found Gage Baker cutting to the basket for an and-1 to help seal the game. Baker was able to nail 6 of 7 free throws late in the 4th quarter as North Knox started to foul out of desperation. Baker finished the game with 10 points and 10 rebounds, earning the Bruins first double-double of the season! Ethan Morris drained 3 for 4 from the free-throw line in the 4th quarter and Jacob Leas was 2 for 2 on free-throws to seal a Bruins win 51-44. Blackford is now 6-4 on the year and will take a much-needed break until January 5th vs Madison Grant.
Stats from North Knox:
Ethan Morris - 17 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocks
Jake Leas - 17 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks & four 3-pointers
Gage Baker - 10 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks
Vince Oxley - 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assists, 2 steals and 1 block
Jacob Dillon - 1 point, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 blocks
Kian Wells - 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Congrats to Ethan Morris and Jacob Leas for earning the All-Tournament team at the Raiders Classic!
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