A roughed up 4-3 Bruin varsity boys basketball team stepped onto the hardwood floor in Medford against the 5-2 St. Mary’s Crusaders with something to prove. The Bruins needed a win to tie the Crusaders for 2nd place in league play, a loss would have dropped them to 3rd place with just 2 games left in league play.
In the first period of play, both teams fought back and forth in an effort to gain control of the pace and scoring. The Bruins, led by the solid play of senior Austin Fronckowiak #2 who hit two 3’s and a basket for 8 points, the Bruins put 12 points on the board. But, the Crusaders matched with 12 points of their own as both teams took the 12-12 tie into the second period.
In the second period, the Bruins upped the intensity of their trapping defense and ran on the Crusaders off of turnovers and mishandled balls. The Bruins put four players in the scoring book driving to the basket for lay-ups and getting to the line 7 times in the second period. Evan Fronckowiak hit a basket and went 2 for 2 from the line, Connor Christensen hit a bucket and went 2 for 2 from the line as senior forward Brig Schofield went 3 of 4 from the line, as the Bruins put 13 points up in the third period. The Bruins defense held the Crusaders to just 9 points giving the Bruins a 4 point lead taking a 25-21 score to the half-time break.
At the start of the third period the Bruins established the pace, with strong defense and getting 4 players on the scoreboard. Sophomore center Derek Bonde #42 led Bruin scorers in the period hitting three baskets for 6 points. Jason Vanginderen #10 also helped under the basket hitting 4 points of his own as forward #1 Logan Holler hit for 4 points. Senior Austin Fronckowiak continued to play well hitting a 3 pointer and a basket for 5 points in the period. The Bruin defense again held the Crusader offense in check allowing only one Crusader to score a basket in the period by shutting down other scoring options. The Bruins put up 19 points extending their lead to 11 after holding St. Mary’s to just 12 points in the period and took a 44-33 lead into the fourth period.
Jason Vanginderen and Derek Bonde continued to control the lane at both ends of the floor with Vangineren hitting two baskets and Bonde hitting three baskets for 6 points and 10 points in the period combined. Senior Austin Fronckowiak #2 hit another 3 pointer and led all scorers in the game with 18 points. The Crusaders pushed to come back and make a game of it as both teams put 15 points up in the period, but the Bruins refused to allow them to close the 11 point gap and took the win 59-48.
The Bruins the Crusaders and the Cascade Christian Challengers now stand tied in league play in 2nd place at 5-3. The Bruins will take on the 1-8 South Umpqua Lancers at home Friday night at Bruin Arena at 7:30pm.
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