With few exceptions, Bridgeport Coach Mike Robey usually will tell you prior to the start of a game that his starting unit isn’t set in stone. Sometimes there are changes made and sometimes he’ll go with the same five for most of the year.

 

When the Indians take the floor Saturday in Clarksburg to battle Robert C. Byrd, Robey doesn’t know who will start. And it has nothing to do with trying to find the most favorable matchup.

 

“This isn’t coach speak about not knowing. I truly don’t know who is going to start and that’s because of illness and injuries,” said Robey. “There’s a bug going around our team and I’m hoping the illness doesn’t go through the entire team. Health factors have been an issue, but it’s something you have to deal with. I’m sure I’m not the only coach going through this, but I’ve never had a situation like this since I’ve been coaching.”

 

Just who starts will be determined Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the RCB gymnasium. The 10-9 Indians will look to get a measure of revenge against the 11-8 Eagles. Robert C. Byrd took the opener 60-50 in Bridgeport.

 

“The biggest thing with Byrd isn’t really the lineup because we know each other so well that there are no real surprises. We know how to prepare for them and they know how to prepare for us,” said Robey. “Last time, they played with way more energy than us. I want our guys to play in desperation mode from the start of the game. We didn’t do that until the end of the game with Byrd the first time and it was too late by then. If we’re going to win, then I’m going to need four quarters.”

 

If Bridgeport starts the same lineup it did in its last outing, the unit will consist of J.T. Harris, Dylan Purcell, Adam Bentz, Jake Bowen and Tyler Hardesty.

 

Two that have started – Braden Lesher and Mackenzie Holmes – aren’t on the list. Lesher has missed the last pair of games due to illness and Holmes is playing despite being hobbled with a knee injury. On top of that, backup point guard Blake Bowers missed Tuesday’s game due to illness and his status is unknown at the moment.

 

Even with those issues, Bridgeport managed to climb back above the .500 mark again with a 77-51 win against Preston in Kingwood Tuesday. The win came after a loss to Class AAA University in Morgantown by an 80-50 score Saturday.

 

Although Preston has struggled this year, getting a win on the Knights’ home floor with a roster of just 14 players between the varsity and junior varsity was big said Robey.

 

“I was real pleased because we’re absolutely decimated with illness and injury like no year I’ve ever seen and we go out and just play hard. That was a good win,” he said. “We had kids stepping up and played a lot of minutes who weren’t feeling well, recovering from illness and then probably didn’t feel too well getting off the bus after that ugly, long bus ride.”

 

Bridgeport led throughout and slowly pulled away. The Tribe was up 33-24 at the intermission and then 51-32 after three periods.

 

Purcell and Harris led the way with 18 and 16 points, respectively. Bentz got into double figures with 11, Hardesty added nine and Jacob Perine came off the bench with eight. Bowen rounded out the balanced attack with seven.

 

“We’ve rode Dylan all year and he keeps delivering and last night J.T. didn’t even come off the floor; he played all 32 minutes,” said Robey. “Then you’ve got Mackenzie playing hurt and giving you everything he’s got and Jacob Perine coming back. I was really pleased to see Jacob do well because this is the first time he’s really contributed since recovering from mono and he was big on both ends of the floor.”

 

Things didn’t go as smoothly against University. The Hawks, who are one of the top teams in Class AAA, are 18-2 and cruised to an 80-50 win against Bridgeport.

 

UHS started and finished strong to get the win. The Hawks led 18-6 after one period, 33-16 at the break and 57-39 after three periods before blowing it open in the final eight minutes.

 

Purcell was the only player to reach double figures. He finished with 14 points.

 

“I was disappointed because we pride ourselves on being a transition team offensively and defensively and University’s goal is to always push the ball. We prepared for it and we couldn’t stop it and they kept us on our heels all night,” said Robey. “. At the same time, I’m realistic enough to know that they’re a really good transition team and one of the best in the state.”

 

Bridgeport will now look to earn back-to-back wins for only the second time this season. Heading to RCB with one of two regular season rematches won’t make that easy.

 

“We’ve got to be ready and I’ve told the kids we have to have the next man up mentality. It’s not really a joke, but it was next man up, then I told the kids it was next man after the next man. Now, we’re at the next after the next after the next,” said Robey. “I’ve emphasized no matter who it is that plays, we can’t use it as an excuse and have to play hard. Hopefully, things will work out for us.

 

“We played well against Preston in that situation,” Robey continued. “We also understand that playing Byrd at their place is an entirely different animal.”

 

Editor's Note: Photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.