Head Coach Jess Beaman and his 4-2 BHHS boys Bruin basketball team started league play this year on the road in Medford as they took on the Cascade Christian Challengers, and without key players early in the season, the Bruins took an early loss.
On Friday night the #1 ranked undefeated 5-0 Cascade Christian Challengers strolled into Bruins Arena carrying with them an early season win over the Bruins.
Two evenly matched teams tested each others defense early in the first while both teams looked to establish an inside game.
Early in the first senior Jason Vanginderen #10 fought it out in the trenches, fighting for rebounds, hitting two baskets and going 2 of 3 from the line. Three other Bruins hit baskets in the period as two Challengers hit for 13 points to lead the Bruins 13-12 to start the second period.
As the game wore on it became very physical, and as Bruin point guard Evan Fronckowiak #12 relentlessly drove into lane, he got fouled getting himself to the line where he would go 4 of 7. Vanginderen hit two inside shots and sophomore guard Fabian Villa #5 hit a 3 pointer off the bench.
But it was the Bruin defense in the second period that set the tone for the rest of the game. The Bruin 2-3 defense allowed only two Challengers to score in the second period as the Bruins went into the half time break leading 26-20.
Coming out of the break to start the third, sophomore Jake Beaman rose to the moment hitting a 3 pointer and a basket for 5 points. Five Bruins made it on the scoreboard in the third as the Bruins showed the Challengers they would not be intimidated. The Bruins established the paint in the third, Vanginderen hit two more baskets in the period, junior Derek Tuttle #20 hit a mid-range jumper and lay-up as the Bruins put a solid 19 points on the board to extend their lead to 45-35 at the end of the third.
In the fourth period the Bruins held a 10 point cushion, but the Challengers were not about to go away. At the 4:00 minute mark of the final period and trailing the Bruins by 11 points, the Challengers had 3 players score in the period.
Bruin guard Evan Fronckowiak #12 and junior forward Logan Holler #33 took the ball to the hoop repeatedly. Fronckowiak hit two tough shots and got to the line 8 times. Logan Holler #33 also put his head down and plowed into the paint to make good use of their interior height advantage.
The Bruins went on to take the win 53-48 and will be on the road next Tuesday traveling to Winston to take on the now 1-5 Douglas Trojan team at 7:00pm.
