With the Bruins coming off of a 3 game win streak, two teams sitting at 6-3 in league play walked onto the hardwood last night believing they were the better team Friday night.
From the first seconds of the game both teams let the other know they were not going to be intimidated. The Crusaders had clearly done their homework and made their adjustments from the first time the two teams met just 9 days ago. The Bruins started a little slow but their 2-3 trap defense woke them up in a hurry. It was clear that the Bruins did not have the height advantage on the inside as the Crusaders 6’5″ junior center #34 Trevahn Foster made all shots difficult. Sophomore forward Logan Holler led all Bruin scores in first quarter hit 3 baskets in the lane. Senior guard Austin Fronckowiak #2 got into the scoring early with a 3 pointer and a basket to give him 5 of the 13 Bruin points in the quarter.
At the start of the second period with the Bruins trailing to ST. Mary’s 13-16 the Bruins turned up the pressure. The pressure trap defense from the Bruins kept St. Mary’s from running on the Bruins for easy baskets. With the outside shots not consistent enough to rely on, driving to the hoop and getting the foul would get the Bruins to the line 10 times in the second quarter and as a team the Bruins hit 8 of 10 from the line.
The Bruin defense did not allow St. Mary’s the throw the ball over the defense and forced the Crusaders to get the basket on their own and create the offense to score. Derek Bonde #23 established himself some space in the lane and contributed by hitting a bucket and going 3 of 4 from the line. Logan Holler went 2 for 2 from the line as did #32 Brig Schofield who went 2 for 2 from the line and hit a bucket. Evan Fronckowiak hit a 3 pointer as the Bruins put 17 points on the Crusaders and held the Crusader offense to just 12 and taking a 30-28 lead into the half.
In the third period the Crusaders defense thought they had adjusted to keep Bonde under controll, and then they were looking at new center Jason Vanginderen who put in some work in the paint. Vanginderen fought in the key hitting two baskets and got to the line twice. Senior guard Austin Fronckowiak went inside and sunk three baskets for six points. Senior Luke Beaman continually drove into the key and got himself two baskets as senior Brig Schofield #32 hit a 3 pointer. After trailing in the 1st period the Bruins would never trail again in the game, and take a 49-42 lead into the final period.
Like two Heavyweight sluggers trading punches in the center of the ring, the Crusaders and Bruins traded big basket for big basket throughout the middle of the fourth period. Sophomore forward #1 Logan Holler brought his shovel out within the fourth period, dug a hole just inside the free throw line and planted himself there for the final 8 minutes. If Holler didn’t make the basket, he would be fouled and sent to the line. He hit a basket and went a perfect 4 for 4 from the line in the fourth. The Crusaders, in a desperate attempt to close the 7 point gap at the break, St. Mary’s would get within 2 points in the period as the Crusaders began to force the issue believing that rushing play would help them cut the gap.
But, the sophomore center Derek Bonde #23 also closed down the inside game of the Crusaders on both ends of floor and Bonde hit three baskets for 6 points as time ran out on St. Mary’s and the Bruins took the 66-62 win setting the stage and putting the Bruins deeper into post-season play.
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