Bridgeport High School’s recent swing of three games in four days didn’t work out as Coach Mike Robey had hoped it would. The Tribe, which was unbeaten at 7-0 last week, dropped two of the three contests to move to 8-2 on the year.

 

BHS fell to North Marion 64-46 on Jan. 12 in Bridgeport before the Tribe rebounded the next day, Saturday, with a home win against Nicholas County by a 67-48 score. On Monday, the Indians lost to West Branch (Ohio), 81-75, in the Martin Luther King Invitational at the 201^st Fairmont Senior Field House.

 

The Indians return to action Friday. The Tribe will be on the road to battle Philip Barbour. The club returns home Wednesday to host East Fairmont.

 

Both games are set for 7:30 p.m.

 

“We’re never happy when we lose, but I thought at beginning of the second half in the North Marion game forward our kids started playing extremely hard and that continued for the rest of the three games,” said Robey. “When you play back-to-back-to-back you wonder about the effort, but the effort was there.

 

“What I really like, particularly in the final game, was that we adjusted on the fly and during timeouts,” Robey continued. “We didn’t have practices to prepare for teams and the kids were able to do what we asked them to do.”

 

The three-game set started in the worst way possible. The visiting Huskies and their Division I big man Jude Akabueze proved to be too much.

 

Akabueze finished with 28 points and nine rebounds in a contest where the visitors led 40-13 at the intermission. Bridgeport rallied well into the second half, getting to as close to nine points in the final period, but it wasn’t enough.

 

“Our kids fought back hard. When you’re down that far and you get it to nine and have possession of the ball midway through the final quarter you know you’re team is giving it everything,” said Robey. “It was anybody’s game with four minutes to go in the ball game and I’m certain anyone watching early didn’t think that was even possible.”

 

The Indians did not have a player in double figures. Brayden Lesher led his team with nine points.

 

The role was reversed Saturday against Nicholas County. In that game, the Indians led big at the end of the first period and halftime. The Tribe was up 17-8 after the first quarter and 30-15 at the break. They would add to their advantage in the final two periods as well to coast to the win.

 

“We played the (to start the season) and had a big lead and let it slip away. This time, particularly in the second half, we took care of the ball,” said Robey. “That was important because Nicholas County is scrappy and they will battle back if you allow them to make a run. We stopped that this time.”

 

Jake Bowen led the way with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Lesher was right behind with 16 points, while Tanner Bifano added 10.

 

On Monday, Bridgeport saw a late fourth quarter lead evaporate in the loss to the Warriors. The Tribe still was in it before WBHS took the lead for good with just under a minute and a half to go.

 

“We played a good team there. Our kids showed effort, but losing it late makes it disappointing. It’s a tie game late, but they had (T.J.) DeShields who was really good,” said Robey of the player who finished with 31 points. “Late in the game when we’re still in it, we had him in check and lost him on a critical possession. He got free and buried a three and that was the difference in the game.”

 

The game proved to be close throughout. In fact, 23-20 at the end of one when John Mazza hit one of his five 3-point field goals in the game at the buzzer. The Indians scored again just ahead of the halftime horn, this time an offensive rebound basket by Adam Bentz, to be down 40-38.

 

Bridgeport eventually led in the third period, but settled for a 58-58 score heading into the final eight minutes of action. Although the Indians led in the fourth, West Branch’s strong play down the stretch gave them the lead and the win.

 

Mazza’s five triples helped him earn 17 points, which was matched by Lesher with 17. Bowen was strong with 11 points and he added six rebounds.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Jake Bowen battling inside against North Marion's Jude Akabueze, while in the bottom photo John Mazza has a discussion with official Ron "Cat Man" Whiting. Photos by Joey Signorelli of www.benqueenphotography.com.