In what would be the last home game of the season in league play for the Bruins, Coach Gonzales brought a relaxed and confident team to the floor in a packed Bruins Arena Tuesday night as the 6-3 Bruins hosted the 0-9 South Umpqua Lancers.
The Bruins came out of the gate perhaps a little too relaxed and seemed to struggle to get into the game. The Lancers, on the other hand, put four players in the scoring books in the first period wasting no time jumping out on the Bruins 0-4 2:00 minutes into the game and continuing on to put 12 points up by periods end.
In the last game Friday night, Austin Fronckowiak “was a man possessed” scoring all the Bruins points in the first period of that game hitting three 3 pointers.
Well, that was last Friday, and if Fronckowiak “was a man possessed”, then Brig Schofield was a man on a mission as he hit all of the Bruins 11 points in the first period. Junior guard Brig Schofield #32 hit three 3 pointers and a basket in the first period alone with no other Bruins getting into the scoring book as the Bruins ended the period trailing the Lancers 11-12.
In the second period, junior guard Austin Fronckowiak #2 decided to help Schofield out in the scoring area hitting a 3 pointer and a basket for 5 points. Schofield hit another basket as the Bruins could only put 8 points on the scoreboard in the second period as they get 5 players in the scoring column and rack up another 14 points adding to their lead and taking a 7 point advantage into the halftime break 19-26.
In the third quarter, Schofield came out of the locker room after apparently eating a bowl of Wheaties as he put the team on his back and played his best game of the year on both ends of the floor. In the third period, Schofield hit two 3 pointers and was perfect from the line hitting 2 of 2. Austin Fronckowiak and senior forward Michael Kreger #15 hit a bucket each as senior guard Gabe Barneburg #30 got to the line hitting 2 of 4 as the Bruins closed the scoring gap hitting 14 points and holding the Lancers to 11.
It was the fourth quarter when the Bruins decided they wanted to win against the winless Lancers and began to play some defense. Led by Jon Kleespies and Brig Schofield the Bruins denied any easy trips into the paint and challenged the Lancers with height and tenacity turning the tables on the Lancers and holding them to just 8 points in the period. The missed shots and turnovers ignited Schofield in the period who took over the floor running the Bruin offense and driving the lane scoring baskets and getting to the line.
Schofield led all scorers in the game after a 14 point fourth period hitting 5 baskets, a 3 pointer and going 1 of 2 from the free throw line. Junior center Big Jon Kleespies #20 hit a basket and a free throw, Fronckowiak was a perfect 2 of 2 from the free throw line and Michael Kreger went 1 of 2 from the line as the Bruins put 20 points up in the final period of play.
Junior guard Brig Schofield #32 hit six 3 pointers, 7 baskets and went 3 of 4 from the free throw line on his way to leading all scorers with 35 points in the game. Junior guard Austin Fronckowiak #2 hit one 3 pointer, 2 baskets and was a perfect 2 for 2 from the free throw line for 9 points on the night as senior forward Michael Kreger #15 and Junior center Jon Kleespies #20 both hit baskets and a free throw as the Bruins took the come from behind win against the South Umpqua Lancers for the second time this season.
When asked what he thought of tonight’s performance, Coach Buell Gonzales Jr. said “It took us awhile to get going. The ball pressure and trapping in the 4th quarter paid off big. Someone had to step up the scoring and Brig did just that with 35 points. All the seniors played and contributed big time. It was a good game and the home crowd was great!”
The Bruins will travel to the home of the #2 team in the state Marshfield Pirates on Friday night for their final league game of the season.
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