The Brookings-Harbor High School Bruins Arena was filled close to capacity Friday night as the boy’s varsity basketball team took to the floor against a powerful 4-0 Marshfield team. The energy was electric with anticipation as the 3-1 Bruins took to the floor coming off a strong road win against South Umpqua last Tuesday.
The Marshfield Pirates were ready to defend their undefeated season as the game tipped off and the teams began to assert their gameplans. Marshfield had a visible physical advantage in height as the Pirates started two players in the middle at 6’7″. Junior center Jon Kleespies had his work cut out for him under the hoop as he fought for rebounds and position all night long.
The Bruins jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the beginning of the first period. Junior guard Austin Fronckowiak #2 hit a 3 point shot and Junior guard Eli Mills hit a 3 pointer of his own as the Bruins started their scoring from the outside. The Bruins put 8 points on the scoreboard in the first as the Pirates put 13 on the board behind 6 points in the paint from 6’7″ center Cory Stover.
The Bruins tried to slow the Pirates down by putting a press on their guard attempting to advance the ball over the timeline. But the sheer size of the Pirates frustrated the Bruins throughout, not just by height, but by reach also. The Pirates cut off passing lanes with their reach making passing into the lane difficult at best and when the Bruins did get a pass into Kleespies they double-teamed him immediately denying him a look at the basket as well as an outlet pass back to outside.
Aside from size, the Pirates played a very aggressive defensive game, bumping players off of their paths, disrupting passing lanes and not allowing Bruin shooters a clean look at the basket. Marshfield allowed only 4 Bruins to score in the game. Bruin players drove inside attempting to get mid-range jumpers only to be called for touch fouls while shooting. Bruin shooters drove the baseline only to called for fouls while being forced out of bounds while shooting, and any loose ball or rebound was a battle as Bruin center Jon Kleespies was pushed, shoved, elbowed and frustrated all night long.
The Bruins Luke Beaman would hit for 6 points in the third period and Brig Schofield hit a basket in a quarter dominated by Marshfield as they stretched their lead to double digits.
The Bruins just couldn’t get on a roll as shots rimmed out or bounced off the rim all night long keeping the Bruins from getting any rhythm or momentum. Junior guard Austin Fronckowiak #2 led all Bruin scorers with 8 points on the night with two 3 pointers and basket. Junior guard Luke Beaman hit two baskets and was 2 for 2 from the free throw line for 6 points, Brig Scofield hit a 3 pointer and a basket for 5 points on the night and Eli Mills hit a 3 pointer early in the game as the Bruins fell to Marshfield 48-22.
The Bruins will travel to Douglas next Tuesday hoping to get back into the win column against a 2-3 Douglas team.
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