After a strong performance Wednesday evening against North Valley, the Bruin boys moved on to their second match up traveling to Medford to take on the #6 ranked Cascade Christian Challengers coming off a big 108-23 win over Rogue River Wednesday night.
The pace was set at the tip-off, as the Challengers broke to the basket off the tip to start the scoring. The Bruins answered with a fast break of their own and the race was on. The Bruins kept pace early, working the ball around the perimeter before challenging Cascade Christian in the paint, trailing by 3 points half way through the first. However, as the game progressed, so did the Challengers confidence, applying a full court press forcing turnovers and forced shots, taking an early lead.
In the second, the Challengers applied more pressure as the Bruins fought to stay close. But the Cascade Christian interior, led by the 7′-0″ junior center, Austin Maurer refused to be drawn out of the key and isolated by the Bruins attempting to draw fouls on the center, as he continued to force Bruin shooters to alter their shots. Cascade Christian took advantage of the Bruins missed shots and turnovers, going on a 6-12 run, running up a 24 point lead before the half.
With a comfortable lead to start the second half, the Challengers continued to run on the Bruins and pressuring them with a trap defense at mid court extending their lead to 34 midway through the third.
The Bruins continued to attempt to break down the Challenger defense from the perimeter, but Cascade Christian continued to take advantage of their overall height denying penetration into the paint and challenging every perimeter shot, allowing only 16 second half points for the Bruins and take the 29-68 win.
The Bruins boys traveled to Lakeview to take on the 1-0 Honkers who handed Rogue River a loss the previous evening, handing the Honkers their first loss of the season while finding themselves in the win column for the first time this 2023 season.
The Bruin boys will match up against the St. Mary’s Crusaders Wednesday evening at home, with a 5:30 tip-off.
