The 2-2 Bruin boys varsity basketball team hosted the undefeated Cascade Christian Challengers Friday evening in a game that featuring one team with nothing to lose and the other expected to live up to the record that precedes them.
A relaxed and confident Challenger team came to Brookings and a determined Bruin boys team came out prepared to prove they could stay with the league leader.
And that’s exactly what the Bruin boys did early, taking an early 7-0 lead midway through the first period as the Challengers struggled early with the Bruin boys pressure. However, the Challenger defense slowed the Bruins scoring as the Challengers shooting warmed up, closing out the first period with a 7-4 Bruin lead.
The Challengers picked up where they left off in the first, putting up 9 points while continuing to hold the Bruins scoreless to start the second. But the Bruins would eventually find the basket, putting 9 points on the board only to find themselves trailing 16-19 to end the second period.
In the third, the Bruin boys set a quick pace coming out of the locker room, putting up 6 points to bring the Bruin boys within 1 point at 25-26 midway through the third period. But again, the Cascade Christian defense would set-up the Challenger scoring, allowing the Bruins only two points to close out the third on their way to 28-36 lead.
In the final period, the Bruins could not find the basket, scoring only 8 points in the period as play became physical as time began to run out before the game devolved rough fouls, and freethrows as the Challengers stretched the final score to take the 51-36 win.
The Bruin boys will be on the road Tuesday, traveling to Medford to challenge the 4-1 St. Mary’s Crusaders with tip-off scheduled for 7:00pm.
