After a fine performance over the past weekend at the annual JayCees basketball tournament, Coach Fulton and his Azalea Bruins took to the hardwood Monday night in their final scheduled game of the 2020 season against a strong Reedsport team.
The AZ Bruins started the match with a tough 2-3 full court press to disrupt the Reedsport attack and create turnover and scoring opportunities early. Ethan Orman #43 went straight to the hoop and led all scorers in the first period with 7 points from 3 baskets and a freethrow.
The AZ Bruin defense allowed only three Reedsport players in the scoring column and held Reedsport to just 9 points in the period on their way to a 12-9 lead going into the second period of play.
In the second period, Reedsport focused on defense and tried to keep the AZ Bruins from running up a lead. The defensive adjustment worked, holding the AZ Bruins to just 9 second quarter points.
However, focusing on defense cost Reedsport offensively as only one Reedsport player could get on the scoreboard in the second as the AZ Bruin defense held Reedsport to just 3 points in the second and extended to 9 point 21-12 lead going into the half-time break.
In the third period the AZ Bruins came out running on offense and picked up the defensive press right where they left off in the first. Three Reedsport players scored in the third hitting for 7 points in the quarter. The AZ Bruin defense refused to let Reedsport back into the game.
On offense in the third, the AZ Bruins continued to dominate racking up 17 points in the period led by Ethan Orman #43 with a 3 as Coach Fulton offensively called the numbers of 7 different AZ Bruin scorers as the AZ Bruins went into the final period with a 38-19 lead.
As the AZ Bruins went into their final quarter of play as 8th graders, Coach Fulton allowed no lapses of focus and pushed his AZ Bruins offensively as they put up 18 points from 6 AZ Bruin scorers.
Coach Fulton and his AZ Bruins finished the season with a decisive 55-28 win. Talking with Coach Fulton after the game he said “It was a really fun season, a bummer how we lost the Jaycees Championship game by 1 point. But, that just shows what we need to work on in the future. I am very proud of the boys, and we all enjoyed watching them all improve. They will become a nice squad to add to the High School. A BIG thank you to all the parents and fans who came and supported the boys”.
Congratulations Coach Fulton, his staff and the AZ Bruin boys team on a fantastic season.
