Coming off a three game win streak after defeating Sutherlin, and South Umpqua and Glide on the road, the Bruin boys varsity basketball team and head coach Luke Beaman came into Tuesday nights match up with the 6-4 North Valley Knights looking to extend their win streak at home.
But the bigger and physical Knights had their own plans taking control of the key and forcing the Bruins to get their shots up from the perimeter as they jumped out to a 3-9 lead midway through the first, ultimately taking a 7-12 lead into the second period.
The Bruins would put 5 players in the in the scoring column in the second, putting up 10 points in the first half of the second, taking a one point lead on their way to 18 points in the period after three Bruin shooters found the bottom of the net for three 3 pointers in the period and take a 25-24 lead into the halftime break.
In the third period, Bruin shooting cooled down as the Knights again established control of the paint, closing off passing lanes inside forcing outside shots. Senior forward, Ethan Orman, led all Bruin scorers in the third with three 3 pointers, but it was forcing the ball inside to sophomore Patrick Hatch for 6 points that kept the Bruins close as the Knights took a 37-45 lead into the fourth period.
The Bruin boys would rally again in the fourth, getting four players on the scoreboard in the period hitting four 3 pointers in the period and getting the Bruins within 6 points late in the fourth. As the period came to a close, the Bruins continued to press defensively, creating turnovers and shot opportunities the Bruins used to get within four with just seconds left, but the 18 Bruin points in the period would not be enough as the Knights outlasted the clock to take the 55-59 lead.
The Bruins travel to Medford Friday to take on the 11-0 Cascade Christian Challengers with tip-off scheduled for 7:00pm.
