Big Red pulls away in the third quarter to top Brooke
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WELLSBURG -- The Big Red boys basketball team is known for its length and athleticism.
The team's length and athleticism can make it tough for teams to score, while at the same time enabling the Red-and-Black to be able to score some easy baskets.
Big Red played a solid game on both ends of the floor against Brooke, and sparked by a big third quarter Big Red defeated the previously undefeated Bruins, 56-41, Friday night inside the Brooke Wellness Center.
"The third quarter was very big," Big Red (4-2) head coach Mike Haney said.
"They only scored three points in the third, and we scored 12. We were up by three, and we talked to the kids beforehand about keeping the game moving and not fouling. We were able to keep the game moving. We had three fouls in the third. We were able to wear them down. We played all 10 kids, and we were subbing eight of them in and out the whole time.
"We defended well. They had some 2-on-1s and 3-on-2s, and we were able to hustle back and make them pass the ball. We were able to come up with some big blocks, and we were able to tip some balls out of bounds. We did not give up points in transition."
Thanks to the big third quarter, Big Red built a 38-26 advantage going into the fourth.
"In the third quarter, we had two terrible halves of the quarter," Brooke head coach Adam Shinsky said. "In the first half of the quarter, we did not shoot the ball. My stat guy told me we took two shots in the first half of the quarter. Then in the second half of the third, after we called a 30 second timeout, we got open look after open after open look, and we could not make any of them.
"They are a good team. They have a lot of length. That may have thrown us off. They play hard. We got open looks, but we just couldn't make them."
Three players delivered double digits in points for Big Red. Individually, Brenten "Inky" Jones netted a team-high 14 points to lead the way, Ty Pierce produced 12 and Kyjhaun Hopkins contributed 10.
Alex Isinghhod delivered a game-high 20 points to lead the charge for the Bruins, while Cole Sperlazza tallied 15.
"We scouted them Wednesday," Haney said. "They are an explosive team. I think they scored 70 points in each of their first two games. We stressed defense to the kids. They have some great shooters. We did a good job on defense.
"We did not make one 3 in the game. We were able to score inside. We had three kids score in double figures -- Jones scored 14, Pierce had 12 and Hopkins had 10. We did a good job. We were able to score inside in the paint. We did a real good job rebounding."
The Bruins led 14-10 at the end of the first quarter.
"We came out, and I think we matched their intensity," Shinsky said. "We had some bad breaks in the second quarter. We played even with them in the first half. We should have had the lead. We missed four foul shots in the second quarter."
The hosts got off to a fast start in the first, however, the visitors were able to whittle their deficit to four points at the end of the quarter.
"I think they were up 12-4, and then we cut it to 14-10 at the end of the quarter," Haney said. "It was a great high school atmosphere. They had a great student section. We had fans. They had fans. It is great to play in that kind of environment even if the fans are against you. It gets your adrenaline going."
The boys from Jefferson County started to get things rolling in the second as they outscored the boys from Brooke County, 16-9, in the quarter to rally and take a 26-23 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.
"They played hard," Shinsky said. "I told the kids the difference was which team was going to be able to grind for 32 minutes. Whatever team was able to do that was going to win the game. We missed some shots. They got some breakaway layups. We did not sprint back.
"We went to a zone. I think they had a hard time with the zone. (Phaeton) Hill did not do too much. Jones led them with 14. The third quarter killed us."
Big Red outscored Brooke, 18-15, in the fourth to secure the team's fourth victory of the season.
"Every time you win it is nice," Haney said. "If you win and if you play well, that will give you more confidence."
Big Red was scheduled to play Harrison Central at noon Saturday on the road in the Buckeye 8 Challenge.
"We like playing in this event," Haney said. "I think we have played in it four straight seasons. Coach Justin Clifford does an excellent with the event. We have always told him we will be happy to participate if needed. We are not in the Buckeye 8, but we are still able to participate in it. We are appreciative of that. Coach Clifford does a good job with everything. We have gotten hoodies and shooting shirts at the event. We got a travel bag two years ago. If you come into out locker room, you will see us still using the same travel bags. I love seeing our kids in hoodies and shooting shirts."
Brooke is slated to play Catholic Central Tuesday night at home. The JV game is set to tip off at 5:45 p.m.
"We did not play Catholic Central a lot when I was at Wheeling Central," Shinsky said. "It doesn't matter if we play Steubenville or Catholic Central if we shoot the ball like we did in the third quarter."
Big Red 56, Brooke 41
Big Red 10 16 12 18 – 56
Brooke 14 9 3 15 – 41
BIG RED (4-2): Hill 1 2-2 4, Buggs 3 0-0 6, Sewell 0 0-0 0, Hopkins 5 0-2 10, Kernahan 0 0-0 0, Taylor 0 0-0 0, Pierce 5 2-2 12, Jones 6 2-3 14, Mullins 0 4-6 4, Vostatek 3 0-0 6. TOTALS: 23 10-16 56.
BROOKE (2-1): Taylor 0 0-0 0, Marks 0 0-0 0, Knox 1 0-1 2, Isinghood 6 6-10 20, Sperlazza 5 3-4 15, Petrella 0 1-2 1, Orban 0 0-0 0, Varner 1 0-0 3, Cipoletti 0 0-0 0, Fuscardo 0 0-0 0, Sperringer 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 13 10-18 41.
3-Pointers: Big Red none; Brooke 5 (Isinghood 2, Sperlazza 2, Varner)