Bruins begin campaign on fire, down rival Golden Bears, 73-55
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NEW MANCHESTER - With Oak Glen on a nine-point run, the once 13-point lead cut down to just three and the Golden Bear faithful on their feet, it seemed as though Brooke had lost all the momentum going into the fourth quarter.
Adam Shinsky, in his first game as the Bruins head coach, successfully was able to calm himself and his team between the third and fourth, however, quickly pulling away and not looking back, en route to a 73-55 season-opening win.
"We were riding high at halftime. We thought we were going to get 80 or 90 points," Shinsky said. "We had about as bad of a third quarter as you could have. It was huge for us to (have a big fourth quarter). We only had three wins last year, one win the year before. We talked a lot about changing the culture. I told them they were going to make a run, if we're going to be a good team and change (the culture), and we did.
"I'm used to being an assistant coach, this is my first win (as a head coach). My Apple Watch was going off, telling me my heart rate was up there."
After the Golden Bears' 9-0 scoring run made it 48-45 after three, Ryan Knox sunk the first shot of the fourth quarter - one of four triples for the new varsity starter - to double the lead and spark a Bruins run that never let up.
"That was huge," Shinsky said. "I can't say enough about the effort of Ryan Knox. He had an ankle injury, he was a jayvee player last year. This summer, he was afraid to shoot ball. He kept us in the game when we couldn't hit any shots."
Brooke outscored the Golden Bears, who also were opening their season, 25-10 in the final quarter.
"They came out and got some quick baskets on us," Oak Glen head coach Jerry Everly said. "We made a run at them (late in the third), but we didn't execute in the fourth quarter. We were moving the ball better in the third when we came out of the half. Then, we fell into standing around, maybe watching Gage (Patterson) a little bit.
"We got a little frustrated. For a lot of these guys, this was their first game playing varsity. They are the men now, they are the guys. They got a little bit frustrated (with the officials), but they were legitimate calls. That's just the breaks of the game. They have to get used to it and handle the adversity. We're finding out who's got what."
The Bruins started fast, jumping out with a 7-2 run and led, 20-14, after the first quarter. They carried that momentum into the second, leading by as many as 15 points before holding a 39-26 halftime lead.
Alex Isinghood had 13 of his 17 points in the opening half. Knox finished with 12 points, Andrew Coursin 14 and Cole Sperlazza a game-high 19 to give the Bruins four players in double figures.
"It wasn't just one guy," Shinsky said. "This was a total team effort. I'm so proud of the kids."
A couple of short runs by the Golden Bears early in the third trimmed the deficit to five early in the third, before the Bruins were able to push it back to 12.
That was short-lived, however, as Oak Glen closed the third on the previously mentioned 9-0 run, capped by a Patterson bucket late in the quarter to make it a three-point-game after three.
Patterson flirted with a triple-double, leading the Golden Bears with 18 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. The coaching staff also had him down for six steals, though he did turn the ball over several times, as well.
"Gage goes 100 miles per hour," Everly said. "He's a leader and a competitor. He competes on the football field the same way he does on the basketball court and the same way he does in track. He's an exceptional athlete and fun to coach.
"Sometimes, you're pulling your hair out, but you've got to take the good with the bad, and there's a lot of good and very little bad."
Knox knocked down his triple to start the fourth, Sperlazza added an old-fashioned three-point play on the run and eventually the Bruins pushed the lead to as many as 21, quieting what was at one point a raucous crowd.
"We fought through it and made some big shots in the fourth," Shinsky said. "We ran, the transition game was big for us (in the fourth). We started running on the rebounds, and settling down in half-court offense and that put the game away for us."
Backing up Patterson's efforts to the Golden Bears
HAPPY TO BE
PLAYING
Due to different approaches to handling sports during the ongoing pandemic between the states, West Virginia teams are starting the season while their Ohio counterparts' seasons have concluded.
"It was great to be able to play," Shinsky said. "The kids have been through enough, I just want everyone to stay healthy and them to be able to play. I'm proud of my kids, I'm proud of (Oak Glen). Basketball is back and that's the best thing."
Both teams were happy to be back on the court following the uncertainty of the season.
"I think the kids just missed competing," Everly said. "These are athletes, they want to get out and play. It feels good to be on the court and be able to compete. We watched Ohio play all winter."
JV ACTION
Brooke won a jayvee nail-biter, 40-38.
UP NEXT
Brooke: Tentatively travels to Linsly on Monday.
Oak Glen: Squared off with North Marion on Saturday.
Brooke 73, Oak Glen 55
Brooke 20 29 9 25 - 73
Oak Glen 14 12 19 10 - 55
BROOKE (1-0): Anderson 0 0-0 0; Knox 4 0-1 12; Isinghood 7 2-2 17; Sperlazza 5 9-10 19; Coursin 6 0-0 14; Taylor 2 0-0 4; Marks 1 0-0 2; Fuscardo 0 0-0 0; Orban 0 0-0 0; Varner 1 2-2 5. TOTALS: 26, 13-15; 73.
OAK GLEN (0-1): Clark 2 2-2 8; Patterson 8 0-0 18; Hissam 5 2-3 16; Beatty 1 0-0 2; Howard 4 0-0 8; Adams 0 0-0 0; Arner 0 0-0 0; Greenlief 0 0-0 0; Taylor 1 1-2 3. TOTALS: 21, 5-7; 55.
3-POINT GOALS: Brooke 8 (Knox 4, Isinghood, Coursin 2, Varner); Oak Glen 8 (Clark 2, Patterson 2, Hissam 4). ASSISTS: Brooke 19 (Sperlazza 7); Oak Glen 16 (Patterson 9). REBOUNDS: Brooke 14 (Isinghood 4); Oak Glen 29 (Patterson 11). TURNOVERS: Brooke 9; Oak Glen 18.