For Bridgeport Coach Mike Robey, it’s been a rough week. Not because his team goes into the weekend at 13-0 and ranked No. 2 in both the Associated Press Poll and the MetroNews Power Index Class AA rankings.

 

Robey is less than pleased with what’s transpired over the last two ball games – wins over Elkins and Buckhannon-Upshur. Although both outings were double digit victories, for the first time this year the team’s offense has been in a funk.

 

“It’s totally perplexing. It’s like a switch went off and we suddenly can’t make a shot and it shows in our numbers,” said Robey.

 

The Indians, prior to the last two games, were averaging 82.5 points per game. In the last two games, the Tribe has had season-low outputs and averaged 61.5 points –or more than 20 points less – per contest.

 

“We’re just not sharing the ball and making the extra pass that we were before and sometimes our recognition of when to pass or drive isn’t where it needs to be right now,” said Robey. “The frustrating part is that we’re actually, in most cases, getting the ball in good position and getting good looks. We just can’t get it into the hole. Maybe last night’s problems were a result of us pressing a bit from having problems in the previous game. I just don’t know, but we need to fix it fast because we’ve got a got a tough stretch of games coming up.”

 

And that stretch begins tomorrow. Bridgeport will be going into the hostile confines of the Robert C. Byrd High School in Clarksburg and the Eagles would almost certainly like nothing more than to avenge an earlier 69-56 setback and give the Tribe their first loss of the year.

 

RCB comes into the game with a 9-4 record and ranked No. 5 in Class AA. Robey, however, said that if anyone thinks those four losses are indicative of a bad team that they’re fooling themselves.

 

“They’re a very good team and I mean very good. If you’re going to judge them for having four losses then you need to consider they’ve lost to Poca, Fairmont West (Senior), Morgantown and to us and those are teams all ranked in the top five. They’re the real deal,” said Robey. “The big problem you have with them is that they’re so athletic you have to constantly adjust. Add to that just how well they’re playing right now and we’ve got our hands full.”

 

Tipoff tomorrow in Clarksburg is set for 7:30 p.m. Robey is expecting a tough go of it.

 

The going proved to be tough last night at Buckhannon-Upshur. B-U, who went into the game with a 5-9 record, gave the Indians everything they wanted.

 

Although Bridgeport maintained the lead throughout, the game proved to be a struggle on the offensive end for the visitors. The 57 points were a season low total for the Tribe, which broke the previous season-low mark that was set in the previous game against Elkins.

 

The Indians managed to get three players in double figures with John Wilfong and Nick Greely both finishing with 13 points and Chase Robey adding 11. Greely did contribute 15 rebounds in the victory. The usually respectable Indian foul shooting was also nowhere to be found as the Tribe went a dismal 13-of-30 from the stripe.

 

“The good thing is that you’re getting the ball to the rim when you’re shooting that many free throws,” said Robey. “To go 13-of-30 is leaving a whole lot of chances to put a team away right out the door. They become wasted, empty trips.”

 

Thankfully, Bridgeport’s defense was up to the task. B-U had just 10 points in the first half and when the Buccaneers finally got things going more on that end of the floor in the second half they were too far in the hole.

 

“The one thing about our defense is that I know our effort and energy is always going to be there. That doesn’t always mean good defense, but I know we’ll play hard on that end,” said Robey. “At the same time, when you hold a team to 10 points you should be ahead by more than 12 points at halftime. That shows just how off we were.”

 

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, Bridgeport watched a game with a 2-10 Elkins squad at home get a little more uncomfortable than Robey would have liked. Despite holding a 54-29 advantage heading into the final period, the Tigers made things a little anxious by outscoring the Indians by a 24-12 count in the last eight minutes before falling 66-53.

 

Bridgeport actually trailed 20-18 late in the first half before taking the lead – and not relinquishing it – just before halftime. BHS led 29-20 at the break thanks to a late 11-0 surge.

 

Once again, Bridgeport had three players in double figures as Wilfong added 22 points, Greely 13 and Donald Kummer 11. Robey finished with eight points, while Wilfong had 13 rebounds.

 

“In this game, when the ball goes into the bucket things go well. When it doesn’t you have the problems we’ve had in the last two games,” said Robey. “I hope it’s just a two-game thing because we can’t afford a letdown if this team wants to achieve their goals.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Coach Mike Robey directing the troops at a recent game, while Dante Bonamico - middle - and Logan Smith - below - go up for baskets against Elkins. Photos by Tyler Maxwell of www.benqueenphotography.com.