The 3-1 Brookings-Harbor Bruins boys varsity basketball team took a long bus ride to Medford to take on the 2-2 Cascade Christian Challengers. With the Bruins coming off of an 82-45 blowout road win last Friday evening against the South Umpqua Lancers, and the Challengers coming off of a two-point loss last Friday against the Crusaders of St. Mary’s, this game was important for both teams. The Bruins would move to 4-1 in league play extending to a 3 game win streak, and the Crusaders needed a win to keep pace with the league leaders.
Both teams came out ready to play, but the Bruins struggled early to keep the Challengers guard off the scoreboard as he hit two 3’s and totaled 8 points of Cascade Christians 15 in the first period. The game quickly became chippy and disjointed as referees let the teams play. The Bruins had 3 players in the scorebook in the first period. Lead by Luke Beaman, who had a bucket and went 2 for 4 from the line, Logan Holler had 3 points, and Brig Scofield had two points as the Bruins only managed 9 points in the first period and trailed by 8 points at the buzzer.
In the second period Logan Holler #1 came out more aggressive and drove into the paint hitting two baskets and went 1 for 3 from the line for 5 points in the period, but it was the return of senior guard Austin Fronckowiak #2 who has been absent with an ankle injury since league play started, that made a big difference. Fronckowiak also hit for 5 points in the period with a basket and the Bruins first 3 pointer of the game. The Bruins outscored Cascade Christian 15 -12 in the second period but still trailed 24-27 at the break.
In the third period the Bruins and Challengers continued the scrappy play that drove the game into a pushing, shoving and reaching match as both teams tried to gain control of the momentum. Senior Brig Schofield #32 continued his strong play hitting a basket and a 3 pointer in the 14 points the Bruins put on the board in the period. Logan Holler hit for 4 points with a basket and going 2 for 2 from the line. The Bruins put up 14 points to the the Challengers 15 in the third period and trailed by 4 points into the final period.
In the fourth period both teams were determined to take control of the game and attempted to put together runs to create distance. Junior guard Evan Fronckowiak #12 was not to be denied putting up 7 points in the period with two baskets, 1 of 2 from the line and a 3 pointer. Senior guard Austin Fronckowiak #2 hit a 3 pointer as the Bruins fought to put up 18 points in a period that the Bruins took their first lead 3 minutes into the fourth followed by six lead changes. However, the Bruins couldn’t beat the referees who sent Cascade Christians Donminic Lewis, who hit a basket, to the line seven times in the period going 5 of 7 from the free throw line for 7 points in the period. The Bruins outscored the Challengers 18-15 in the period and lost by 1, 56-57 as time expired.
Coach Gonzales will have his team on the floor against St. Bernards tomorrow in an unusual 2:30 afternoon game at Bruins Arena.
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