CameraManBrent
02-28-2006, 02:41 PM
ENID - Sometimes the path of least resistance is the best way to approach things.
In the high school basketball playoffs, it’s definitely the way to go.
The Beaver High School boys basketball team completed a remarkable sweep of the field here Friday night with a 52-36 win over Agra in the Area I championship contest at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center.
With the win, the Dusters (25-1) qualify for this weekend’s Class A State Tournament. It is the second straight appearance in the big dance for the Dusters and coach Brian Stalder.
“It is so important to win that game, because it’s hard to turn around the next night and play,” Stalder said. “If we would have lost, we would have had to play a great team in Pioneer. It is an emotional drain if you get beat in that game to turn around. We were tickled pink to not have to worry about it. Plan A is definitely better than having to fall back on Plan B anywhere down the road of the playoffs.”
The Dusters took control of the contest from the tip, scoring the game’s first eight points. Agra couldn’t even get the ball down the floor against the Dusters’ tough pressing defense.
When the dust cleared at the end of the first eight minutes, it was 24-7 in favor of the Dusters.
By halftime, however, the Bearcats had clawed back into the game on the heels of a 16-2 run to start the second quarter. BHS led 31-26 at the break.
“I think we were pretty excited at the start of the game, and we played really well early,” Stalder said. “I think our emotions fell off a little in the second quarter. We were disappointed how we defended. We didn’t score great, and sometimes that happens. The defensive end is more under our control, and we were disappointed in that. We gave them some looks that were better than what we wanted to give up.
“At halftime, we talked about playing better defense in the second half. And I felt like we did.”
In the third, the Dusters opened with an 8-2 spree that pushed the lead to 11 points. Agra could never really recover as the Dusters coasted down the stretch.
Junior Josh Malone led the way with 18 points, while junior Tye Richerson scored 15 and pulled down 15 rebounds. Senior Chuck Salisbury added nine points but had four assists and two steals. Senior Wade Payne had five points - along with five steals, while junior Garrett Nichols scored five points as well.
“Between the last four years for (senior) Chuck Salisbury and the other seniors, plus with the last three years with our juniors - they’ve been through some tough times,” Stalder said. “We threw them in the fire when they were young. It’s paying off for them right now.”
In the high school basketball playoffs, it’s definitely the way to go.
The Beaver High School boys basketball team completed a remarkable sweep of the field here Friday night with a 52-36 win over Agra in the Area I championship contest at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center.
With the win, the Dusters (25-1) qualify for this weekend’s Class A State Tournament. It is the second straight appearance in the big dance for the Dusters and coach Brian Stalder.
“It is so important to win that game, because it’s hard to turn around the next night and play,” Stalder said. “If we would have lost, we would have had to play a great team in Pioneer. It is an emotional drain if you get beat in that game to turn around. We were tickled pink to not have to worry about it. Plan A is definitely better than having to fall back on Plan B anywhere down the road of the playoffs.”
The Dusters took control of the contest from the tip, scoring the game’s first eight points. Agra couldn’t even get the ball down the floor against the Dusters’ tough pressing defense.
When the dust cleared at the end of the first eight minutes, it was 24-7 in favor of the Dusters.
By halftime, however, the Bearcats had clawed back into the game on the heels of a 16-2 run to start the second quarter. BHS led 31-26 at the break.
“I think we were pretty excited at the start of the game, and we played really well early,” Stalder said. “I think our emotions fell off a little in the second quarter. We were disappointed how we defended. We didn’t score great, and sometimes that happens. The defensive end is more under our control, and we were disappointed in that. We gave them some looks that were better than what we wanted to give up.
“At halftime, we talked about playing better defense in the second half. And I felt like we did.”
In the third, the Dusters opened with an 8-2 spree that pushed the lead to 11 points. Agra could never really recover as the Dusters coasted down the stretch.
Junior Josh Malone led the way with 18 points, while junior Tye Richerson scored 15 and pulled down 15 rebounds. Senior Chuck Salisbury added nine points but had four assists and two steals. Senior Wade Payne had five points - along with five steals, while junior Garrett Nichols scored five points as well.
“Between the last four years for (senior) Chuck Salisbury and the other seniors, plus with the last three years with our juniors - they’ve been through some tough times,” Stalder said. “We threw them in the fire when they were young. It’s paying off for them right now.”