Bruins pull away from Rochester Hills to take over FBAC lead
TRAPPED: Troy Bethany Christian junior Daniel Sprankle is looking to escape the defense of Rochester Hills Christian junior Aaron Berry (No. 12) and senior Nick Patton during Tuesday's FBAC Red Division game. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
TROY — Jack Walker made a plea to his Troy Bethany Christian boys basketball team at halftime Tuesday about stop settling for jump shots.
His team responded.
After struggling to a 19-19 tie with visiting Rochester hills Christian at the half, the Bruins outscored the Eagles 30-14 in the second half to earn a 49-33 triumph in a battle of first-place teams inside the Fundamental Baptist Athletic Conference Red Division.
Senior guard Travis Woodham scored 14 of his game-high 18 points after halftime and finished the night with 11 steals, one of the highest single-game totals in school history, to go along with four assists and three rebounds for Bethany Christian to lead the way.
“We tried to drive the ball more (in the second half). We shot too many (jump shots) in the first half and they weren’t falling and I thought we should have been driving,” said Walker. “We started to drive more and that really got us going. In the first half it was more when in doubt, shoot. In the second half it was more drive. They were coming at us hard (defensively). I thought we played well mentally in the second half.
“I thought defensively we were playing better in the second half. We got a lot of steals which led to fast break points,” continued Walker. “We were forcing turnovers which led to our offense being able to dirve.”
Junior forward Mark Bishop added eight points, three rebounds and three steals and senior guard Jono Gronow scored nine for the Bruins (8-2, 2-0), who shared the conference crown with Lake Orion Baptist last season and are now alone in first place in the division.
“I thought we played really well. We only gave up (14 points) in the second half,” praised Walker. “We were a different team in the second half.”
Rochester Hills trailed 7-4 after the first quarter but rallied to take a 19-14 lead in the second quarter when senior center DJ Szydlowski scored on a driving layup, then split a pair of free throws with 1:30 left in the first half, which capped an 11-5 run.
Troy Bethany Christian responded with a 5-0 run to end the half and tie the score. In the third quarter, the Bruins created a little breathing room, using a 13-4 run to build a 32-23 lead. The run was fueled by forcing Rochester Hills into 10 third-quarter turnovers.
Bethany Christian iced the game with a 17-10 fourth-quarter surge.
Szydlowski finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots for Rochester Hills Christian (7-4, 1-1). Senior guard Josh West and freshman guard Marquez Hatcher were held to five points apiece for the Eagles.
“It was one of those nights where nothing was falling, but I am still proud of my guys,” offered Rochester Hills Christian coach Jon Bronsing. “I mean after last year (when we had) just four wins to this year, where we already have that many wins. (Bethany Christian) is the defending league champs and to come in here and hang with them in the first half and part of the third quarter shows that our team has improved. One thing we have to get better with is we have got to handle pressure better. We are still very young.
“DJ and Josh are our only two returning starters back,” continued Bronsing. “Nick Patton was out half of the season hurt, Nathan Simon only played half of the season on varsity and Aaron Berry broke his foot last year. We are very young, with two of our guards being a freshman and sophomore. We’ll get better. We hung in there and played tough. We left it all out on the floor.
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Category: Prep Wraps, Rochester Hills Christian, Troy Bethany Christian
