The Bruins Varsity Boys basketball team matched up against a much taller opponent in the Siuslaw Vikings Tuesday night in what could be categorized as a very ‘physical’ contest as blood was literally spilled on more than one occasion.
The Siuslaw Vikings ran out on the Bruins early blocking passing lanes, causing turnovers and getting inside for fast break points and rebounds. The Vikings had six players in the scoring column in the first quarter as they put 20 points on the Bruins in the first period.
The Bruins relied on the scoring of 3 players early on to keep them in the game. Junior guard Eli Mills took some medium-range jumpers and hit for 4 points. Junior center Jon Kleespies #20 fought under the basket to put up 4 points while junior guard Luke Beaman #12 hit a basket in the 10 points the Bruins scored in the first period.
The second period brought three different scorers for the Bruins fighting to keep Brookings-Harbor in the game. Senior Jaime Cruz scored inside the paint, Michael Kreger put 2 points in the books and junior guard Brig Schofield led all Bruin scorers in the period with a timely 3 and getting to the line to hit 2 free throws.
But the story of the second period wasn’t scoring, it was the lack of scoring. The Bruins brought their pressure defense to the second period and frustrated the Vikings with man to man pressure causing turnovers and bad shots by Siuslaw. This defense brought a physical aspect to the game as the smaller Bruin team cut off passing lanes and ran through picks which resulted in a game delay when junior guard Austin Fronckowiak #2 took a blow to the nose and the court had to be wiped up. The Bruin defense held Siuslaw to just 5 points in the second period letting the Vikings hit only 2 baskets and one free throw in the entire period.
Both teams would go into the locker room with one good quarter under their belt, but the Bruins took momentum into the break after a shut down second period even though the score favored the Vikings 25- 21.
Both teams came out in the third period determined to reestablish themselves trading baskets for much of the period. The Bruin defense continued to cause problems for the Vikings, and even though the Bruins were getting the much-needed turnovers, the rim continued to be unkind as they just could not get the roll for the basket.
Scoring for the Bruins in the third period was a cast of the usual suspects. Eli Mills hit a jumper, Luke Beaman buried two free throws, and Jon Kleespies got his layup under the basket, as the Bruins put another 11 points on the board to the Vikings 12.
In the fourth period, the Bruins dialed up the pressure once again, fighting for every possession, loose ball, turn over and rebound. But unlike the second period, the story of this period wasn’t the excellent Bruin defense, it was the Bruin scoring. The Bruins needed to make up a 5 point deficit and a determined Bruins team ran on the Vikings scoring off of turnovers and fast breaks.
It was as if Bruin guard Austin Fronckowiak decided that he wasn’t going to take a blow to the nose and lose the game too as he put the Bruins on his back and went on a 6 point scoring streak of his own in the fourth period. Fronckowiak lead the way as Brig Schofield hit his jumper and a free throw and Jon Kleespies sank his free throws after being fouled in the paint.
The Bruins put 11 points on the board in the period while holding the Vikings to just 6 tying the game with seconds left and sending the game to over time.
To begin the overtime period the referees held a jump ball at center court, and blood would be spilled again when the referee took an elbow to the nose knocking him to the floor. The referee would recover quickly and continue on as both teams picked up right where they left off. The Bruins continued to pressure Siuslaw allowing on two Vikings to score in the OT period.
Eli Mills hit two jumpers for 4 points, Austin Fronckowiak buried two Free throws, Brig Schofield hit his two free throws and cool hand Luke Beaman calmly stepped up again and put the game away with two free throws of his own as the Bruins put 11 points on the board in the overtime period to take the come from behind win.
When asked what were the keys to tonight’s win, Coach Gonzalez said “Eli played very well. He was tough on both ends the entire game. We showed a lot of grit and heart tonight and it all stems from our leader Austin. He’s a tough kid and a great competitor. I’m glad he is on our team, and it always helps when you go 15 for 15 from the FT Line… That’s really good. You do that and you will give yourself a chance to win every game.”
Junior guard Austin Fronckowiak #2 led all Bruins scorers with 13 points on the night, Junior guard Eli Mills #1, Junior center Jon Kleespies #20, and junior guard Brig Schofield hit for 10 points each, with junior guard Luke Beamans 6 points were the high scorers for the Bruins in the overtime win.
The Bruins will travel to North Bend this Friday to tip-off against the 7-8 Bulldogs.
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