The BHHS varsity boys basketball team hosted the South Umpqua Lancers Thursday evening and Coach Hodges was looking to get his Bruins back on track after two consecutive set-backs.
The 1-2 Bruins started the first period determined to get to the basket, working the ball inside to Brad Russell #10 as the Bruins attacked the paint. Jake Beaman led Bruins with a 3 pointer and a basket and a free-throw, Russell had 4 points from the block and Oggie Badger had a basket working the boards.
The Bruin defense slowed a quick Lancer team in the first, controlling their fast break opportunities by closing off the interior lanes to the basket.
Leading 11-7 after the first period of play, Bruin offense struggled to score in the 2nd period as the Lancers capitalized on Bruin missed shots. The Lancers had four players score in the 2nd putting up 11 points. But a late 2nd period flurry of Bruin offense before the half led again by Beaman and Badger, who each had 4 points in the quarter, secured a 24-18 Bruin lead going into the locker room at the half.
After the break, the Bruin defense took control of game and shut down the Lancer offense, allowing only two South Umpqua players in the scoring column in the period.
On offense, Bruin point guard Josh Serna hit a 3 pointer and a basket for 5 points, but again Jake Beaman led the Bruins in the 3rd with three baskets and a free-throw for 7 points as the Bruins put 15 points on the scoreboard.
In control of the game going into the final period of play,the Bruins finished the game stopping any Lancer offensive continuity, while creating fast-break opportunities and running on South Umpqua and scoring another 15 points before the end of the game.
The Compass talked with coach Hodges after the game saying “We saw some improvement from the kids on some of the things we’ve been working on.” he said. “We got the shots we wanted, we executed the offense well, but, our shooting was atrocious. Defensively, we picked it up in the second half, I was proud of the kids effort tonight.”
The Bruins will be on the road next Tuesday traveling to Medford to challenge the 5-3 St. Mary’s Crusaders at 6:00pm.
