The 3-4 Bruin boys basketball team, coming off of a tough loss last Tuesday against the Douglas Trojans in Winston, saw the schedule got no easier Friday night as the Bruins took on the 5-2 Sutherlin Bulldogs.
The Bruins and Bulldogs match-up well, but defensively the Bulldogs exposed the Bruin weaknesses and never trailed. Both teams fought in the paint to establish control in the key. When the Bruins drove into the lane the Bulldog defense collapsed, forcing tough shots if the Bruins could even get them off.
Junior forward Logan Holler #33 repeatedly drove inside in the first, getting to the line four times in the first and going 4 for 4 from the line. Senior guard Evan Fronckowiak #12, and senior Jason Vanginderen #10 and Derek Tuttle all hit baskets in the first as the Bruins put 10 points up in the period. The Bulldogs matched the Bruins as both teams game plans mirrored each other. The Bulldogs had three players in the scoring column taking a 10-11 lead after one.
In the second period, the Bruins stuck to the gameplan, smothering defense and offense in the paint. Bruin guard Colt Morris #32 hit two big shots for 4 points, Senior forward Conner Christensen #15 hit a basket, Derek Tuttle hit inside, and Logan Holler hit a bucket and a free throw as the Bruins put up 11 points. The Bulldog offense consisted of three players scoring 14 points in the period.
Coming out after the halftime break sitting at 21-24, the two evenly matched teams put on a defensive show in the third. Again the Bruins allowed only three Bulldogs on the scoreboard in the third period and holding Sutherlin to just 9 points. However, the Bruins could not capitalize only putting 6 points in the scorebook from just two Bruin shooters. Logan Holler hit two buckets and Derek Tuttle hit a basket for the 6 Bruin points in the third.
Trailing 27-34 going into the final period the Bruins pressed for points as the Bulldogs slowed the game, killing time to limit Bruin offensive opportunities to tie or take a lead late. Vangideren, Fronckowiak and Tuttle were responsible for all 7 of the Bruins points in the fourth. The Bruins got to line three times in the fourth while the Bulldogs scored 14 of their 16 fourth quarter points from the foul line.
The Bruins just could not recover from the two single digit scoring quarters in the second half as the Bulldogs extended their lead late to finish the contest with 34-50 Bulldog win.
The Bruins now face their final two games of the regular season next week, playing their last regular season homegame Tuesday night at Bruin Arena at 7:00pm.
