Showing no mercy: Bruins clinch FBAC title share by rolling Springfield Christian by 38

UP FOR TWO: Troy Bethany Christian junior Daniel Sprankle drives the lane for two of his game-high 19 points in the Bruins' 74=36 win Friday over Clarkston Springfield Christian. Staff Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

CLARKSTON — Troy Bethany Christian has had some blowout wins in the Fundamental Baptist Athletic Conference this season. Still the Bruins had to work for a 10-point decision over Clarkston Springfield Christian last week.

This time around, Bethany Christian returned to its blowout ways.

With Springfield Christian missing its top player, Alex Trull, the Bruins were relentless in chalking up a surprisingly-easy, 74-36, FBAC Red Division win Friday over the host Eagles.

Bethany Christian (15-4, 7-0) opened with a 21-2 first-quarter run and never looked back, forcing 25 turnovers on the night. The Bruins led 41-16 at the half while outscoring the Eagles (8-10, 4-4) by a 33-20 margin in the second half.

With the win, Bethany Christian clinched at least a tie for the FBAC Red Division title for the second straight season. The Bruins, who shared the crown with Lake Orion Baptist last season, only have a make-up game with second place Rochester Hills Christian left to play on the league schedule, although a date has not been agreed upon as of yet.

LOOKING FOR REAL ESTATE: Clarkston Springfield Christain's Ben Matthews and the Eagles didn't find much space to operate Friday, getting swarmed by the defense of Troy Bethany Christian in a lopsided FBAC Red Division defeat to conference champion Troy Bethany Christian. Staff Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

“This gives us at least a tie, which is a nice accomplishment. But I think the guys are really focused on the state tournament,” said Bethany Christian coach Jack Walker, whose team is the No. 1 seed in the South Sectional for the Michigan Association of Christian Schools Division I state tournament, which begins in two weeks. “I know the guys want to go farther than last year.”

Springfield Christian, which finished third in the conference, is hoping to get back all of its players from both eligibility issues and injuries.

“We had two injuries coming in, and missing (senior) Alex (Trull) definitely hurt,” said Springfield Christian coach Pat Wagner. “Two of my starters were injured. They played, but they were hampered. We had to play differently and the game got away from us.”

The Bruins were shorthanded themselves, with two players from the rotation out with injuries, while a third fighting the flu and playing limited.

Daniel Sprankle led the Bruins with 19 points. Clayton Thomas added 12 points, Travis Woodham had 10 points and eight assists, and Everett Cooke also scored 10 to become the fourth player in double figures for Bethany Christian.

With the lead ballooning to over 30 points in the third quarter, Walker pulled Travis Woodham and some of the other key players. But with only eight players dressed, there wasn’t much that Walker could do, having to keep five players on the floor.

“I pulled Travis with five to go (in the third quarter) and we were still pulling away. I pulled my best player. I had to have five guys on the floor, and we only had eight guys here today,” said Walker. “I took Jono Gronow out, too. One of our guys played, but he had the flu. We had another guy break his wrist last week and yesterday at practice, our best baseball pitcher, Luke Combs, knocked out his tooth, so he was out. It’s not like I had a deep bench for this game.

“It was strange, because we had such a close game with (Springfield) last week,” continued Walker. “It was a four-point game in the fourth quarter and we won by 10. This time we just came ready to play.”

Ben Matthews led Springfield Christian with 17 points. Steven Lowery added six points for the Eagles.

“They are a solid team,” said Wagner of Bethany Christian. “They have depth and they work their offense as well as anybody. It’s one of their stronger suits. They’re a beatable team, but you have to come to play to play them. We didn’t in this game.”

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Tags: boys basketball, FBAC, featured, prep boys baketball

Category: Clarkston Springfield Christian, Prep Wraps, Troy Bethany Christian, Troy Christian Leadership Acadamy