After a two week hiatus from the hardwood, coach Hodges and the boys varsity basketball team started the 2022 regular season off on the road, traveling to Medford Friday evening to take on the defending league champion Cascade Christian Challengers.
Both teams were eager to establish tempo early, with the Challengers starting the game applying full court pressure from their base defense to slow the Bruin attack and force them out of their game-plan early. After Cascade Christian broke out to a 4-11 lead half way into the first period, the Bruins applied their own press on the Challengers, and threw over the Cascade Christian defense to beat their press.
The Challengers countered, pulling their 7ft. sophomore center out of the paint and behind the 3 point line, where he hit for four 3 pointers in the first period. Senior center Brad Russel #55 led the way for the Bruins in the first period, hitting for 6 points.
Starting the second period trailing 12-28, the Bruins attacked the basket, matching the Challengers scoring in the second period with five Bruins getting on the score board, sending teams to the half-time break with a score of 26-41.
The Bruins came out in the third period getting to the basket off of defensive stops, while center Brad Russell forced the Cascade Christian center out of the paint. Bruin freshman guard Jaren Fronckowiak #4 led all scorers in the third period, hitting three baskets and 2 of 2 from the freethrow line for 8 points in the period. The Bruins outscored the Challengers as a team 17-14 in the third period and trailed by 12, 43-55, at the end of three periods.
In the fourth period, 9 of the Challengers 19 points in the period came from the freethrow line, as Cascade Christian went 9 for 13 in the period. Sophomore guard Ethan Orman #32, and Jaren Fronckowiak #4 combined for 10 of the Bruins 19 points in the final period, with Orman hitting a bucket and a 3 pointer, helping the Bruins draw to within 10 points.
But the early Cascade Christian double digit lead established in the first period, proved too much to overcome late in the game, as the Challengers took the 60-74 win. The Bruins will see their next action on the road again next Monday, January 17, in a non-league contest against the North Bend Bulldogs at 5:30pm.
