Bruins Come Up Short in Hard Fought Battle for First

February 16, 2022

The 5-2 BHHS Bruin boys basketball team hosted the Cascade Christian Challengers Tuesday evening in a match-up that could put both teams in a tie for first place as the regular season begins to come to a close.

The 6-1 Challengers came into Bruin arena looking for their second consecutive win after suffering their first league loss to the 4-4 Douglas Trojans last Friday evening.

Senior Jake Beaman, #1, driving for 2 of his 12 points.

The Bruins offense quickly set the pace, wasting no time getting the ball out of their own back court and attacking the Challenger defense inside. The Challenger defense picked up pressure at mid-court, and the Bruin offense started cold, as both teams struggled to find the basket. With the Bruins trailing 4-6 half way through the first period, the Challengers dumped the ball in the paint and stretched it to a 8-12 lead.

Josh Serna, #34, starting the Bruin offense had 7 points on the night.

Senior forward Jake Beaman led the way in the first scoring 4 points, as the intensity increased in the second period. Senior Brad Russell #55 and freshman Jaren Fronckowiak #4. led the way for the Bruins in the second, with Russell leading all scorers in the second period with 10 points including a 3 pointer, while Fronckowiak hit two 3’s on his way to 8 points in the period. Tied at 21 at the mid-way mark of the second, the Bruins would trail 26-28 at the half.

Senior center Brad Russell, #55, had 14 points, a 3 pointer, and went 3 for 3 from the line.

Both teams applied a press in the second half, and the Challengers threw over the top and dumped the ball in the paint for 9 of their 16 points in the quarter. The Bruins struggled to find the basket again to start the second half, as Jake Beaman’s 3 pointer led all Bruin scorers in the period as the Challengers extended their 2 point half time lead to 13 points leaving the score 33-46 after three periods.

Freshman point guard, Jaren Fronckowiak coming out of his shoes to get to the basket, hit four 3 pointers on his way to 17 points.

In the fourth period the referees took over the game, sending the Challengers to the line 12 times in the fourth for 10 of the Challengers 17 points in the period. Freshman Jaren Fronckowiak #4 led the way for the Bruins with 7 points in the period, including two 3 pointers. #1 Jake Beaman and Josh Serna each had 5 points in the period, as the Challengers held on to take the 54-63 win.