On Friday, Bridgeport ended its regular season in disheartening fashion with an 81-41 setback to Fairmont Senior. This evening, the Indians are hoping to avoid the end of their entire season as they kick off action the Class AA Region II, Section 1 tournament.

 

The 12-10 Tribe, seeded No. 2 in the section, will host No. 3 Lincoln. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

 

The Cougars come into the contest with a 9-13 record. However, for those thinking that five-game difference and home court advantage means a cakewalk into the sectional final, BHS Coach Mike Robey believes those individuals need to think again.

 

And he has good reason. Lincoln has been competitive in many of those setbacks and three weeks ago on Feb. 7 gave the Indians everything they wanted at BHS before falling 67-62 to the Tribe in overtime.

 

“Lincoln matches up extremely well with us. This is a game that could come down to the last possession of the game with this type of team. We’re that evenly matched,” said Robey. “One thing I know is that they’ve got weapons.”

 

In the only encounter this year, the Cougars’ Chase Riley was a huge thorn in the side for the Tribe. He managed to send the game into overtime with a clutch 3-point field goal late in the contest.

 

“We have to contain Riley. I’ve watched them play a few times and he’s capable of going on a tear and ending up with 25 or 30 points. When that happens with him, or any player, it seems to get everyone playing at a higher level,” said Robey. “We’re definitely going to try and keep the reins on him.”

 

Lincoln has the services of Cory Fazalare, Izzik Haymond (who scored eight of his 13 points against Bridgeport earlier this year in overtime) and as Robey said, “a host of others” that can hurt Bridgeport.

 

“We know what kind of game we’re in for,” said Robey.

 

The stakes are extremely high. The loser, as mentioned, will see their season come to an end. The winner, however, will advance to the sectional final against the winner of tonight’s Robert C. Byrd-Elkins game in Clarksburg. The game will played Thursday on the home floor of the highest remaining seeded team, also at 7 p.m.

 

 

Once to the sectional final, the winners and losers both have a chance to advance to the state tournament by winning a regional battle. And as Robey puts it, everyone right now is focusing on finding a way to Charleston.

 

“I’ve told the kids that if we’re fortunate enough to make to the state tournament, we’re probably going to be a No. 7 or No. 8 seed if things in other regions fall in line,” said Robey. “That doesn’t mean we’re getting ahead of ourselves because our full attention in on Lincoln. At the same time, we know and Lincoln knows that we’re playing to get there. We are focused squarely on Lincoln because our goal is Charleston. It’s always the goal.”

 

Robey isn’t necessarily pleased with the team’s 12-8 mark, which is the worst of his time with the Indians. However, he said the team is battled tested.

 

“I’ll put our strength of schedule with anyone else in Class AA. We’ve played Fairmont Senior twice, University twice and then you add Philip Barbour, North Marion East Fairmont, Mingo Central and our local rivalries, including Lincoln and Byrd and you can see what a grind it’s been,” said Robey.

 

Even though Robey believes his team can compete with anyone in the ‘AA’ division, they squarely took one on the chin Friday to close out the year. Fairmont Senior put a damper on senior night with a 40-point win.

 

“I think you’ve got to take something from every game – wins and losses both – and hopefully get better from them. I hope we learned from that game because, honestly, they just beat us in every phase of the game,” said Robey.

 

The game was essentially over after the first period as the Bears raced out to a 28-13 lead and stretched it to 40-19 at the half. FSHS extended the advantage in each of the final two periods.

 

No Bridgeport player reached double figures. Jake Bowen led the Tribe with eight points and Blake Bowers added seven.

 

The loss came after the Indians earned a last-second win against Elkins in Randolph County last Tuesday. BHS scored in the waning seconds to take a 45-43 win against the Tigers.

 

“Our defense carried us that night. When you only score 45, your defense better be playing well,” said Robey.

 

The defense came up big when the Indians needed it the most. With the game tied at 43 and the clock winding down, Elkins was looking for the last shot. Fortunately for the Tribe, things went their way.

 

Robey said Bowers, and the BHS backcourt, were pressuring the ball and he got a hand on it. The deflection found its way to Mackenzie Holmes who threw it ahead to J.T. Harris for a layup with just a few seconds left on the clock.

 

Bridgeport was led by Dylan Purcell. He finished with 16 points.
 

The game will be aired on 103.3 FM WAJR with Travis Jones making the call. The game will go live right at 7 p.m.

 

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