Jess Beaman and the BHHS varsity boys stepped off the bus in Sutherlin and walked right into a dkdlsf with the 1-1 Sutherlin Bulldogs. Both teams had two things in common before the tip, both teams were 1-1 in league play, and both teams shared their one league loss with Cascade Christian.
But after the tip, it was clear that those would be the only things they had in common as the Bulldogs put their defense on display and allowed only two Bruins to score in the first period. The Bruins tried to run on the Bulldogs to keep themselves in the game but Sutherlin refused to allow the Bruins easy baskets holding the Bruins to just 7 points in the period led by sophomore guard Jake Beaman #1 who had 5 points off of a 3 pointer and a basket.
But the Bruins kept it close early, until the Bulldogs established the inside. Determined to keep the Bruins out of the paint the Bulldogs tightened inside, cleaning the boards and allowing the Bruins no second shots. Still the Bruins fought to stay in the game, putting three players in the scoring column in the second period. Junior Derek Tuttle #10 led the way for the Bruins fighting for two inside baskets for 4 points. The Bulldogs managed 13 points in period and took a 15-19 Bulldog lead into the break.
The Bulldogs came out determined in the third period to take control of the game and put up 13 points. Four Sutherlin players hit buckets in the period, but the defense was the difference in the period. The Bulldogs again denied drives to basket, forcing Bruin shooters to change their shots and then controlling the rebound. The Bruins could not get their outside shooting game going and watched as the Bulldogs extended their lead to 19-32 going into the final quarter.
(all photos courtesy Becky Miller)
In the fourth, senior point guard Evan Fronckowiak #12 continued to drive the lane and led all Bruin scorers in the fourth period with 6 points off of two buckets and two free throws. But missed free throws, turnovers, and poor outside shooting proved to be too much for the Bruins to overcome as the Bulldogs outscored the Bruins in the fourth to take the 28-44 Bulldog win.
The Bruins will be on the road next Friday, traveling to Medford to challenge the St. Mary’s Crusaders next Friday at 5:30pm in Medford.
