BHHS head coach Luke Beaman and his varsity boys basketball team held one of their last preseason non-league contests at home as they prepare for the regular season to begin next Tuesday, January 14th, hosting the Coquille Red Devils Tuesday evening.
A high energy Bruins team took the floor their first time in their home game and used their energy to press the Red Devils early in an attempt to create turnovers and early scoring opportunities. Both teams matched each other at both ends of the court early in the first with the Bruin boys taking a 6-5 at midway through the first before the Bruins worked their way to a 10-8 lead after the first period.
In the second period, the persistent Bruin boys defense kept the Red Devil offensive attacks disorganized and capitalized on the opportunities created on turnovers extending their lead to 10 points halfway through the second.
However, the Red Devils settled into their own defensive plan shutting down points in the paint and forcing the Bruin boys to settle for outside opportunities, and closed the gap to within 3 points at the half.
Leading 20-17 to start the second half, the Bruin boys continued to keep Coquille off balance defensively pressing on in bounds and change of possession to stay ahead of the Red Devils before ending the third period with a 5 point lead.
However, in the fourth, the Bruin boys offense went cold and the Red Devils took advantage, unbelievably committing no fouls in the fourth period as they turned up the physical play defensively shutting down the lane and holding the Bruin boys scoreless in the final period as they put up 7 points offensively to tie the score at 28-28 with 1:30 left in the game, before taking the 28-33 win.
The Bruins will host their final preseason non-league game this Friday in a Hwy. 101 rivalry match-up when the Gold Beach Panthers make the trip down the coast Friday evening with tip off scheduled for 5:30pm.
