Bear trap

BRYSON – With nine seniors set to graduate after this season, Bryson’s boys basketballers are needing to find replacements on the floor while still playing for this year.

Games like Friday night’s 77-42 win over visiting Gold-Burg can accomplish that, Coach Slade Egan having the opportunity to play many of his underclassmen who looked good in their time on the floor.

“We wanted to get the young kids some playing time and we were able to do that and they did okay,” Egan commented after watching his troops go to 3-2. “It was selfless of the seniors to stay in there and help the younger ones out.”

Bryson took a double digit lead early in the game, as seniors Landon Stephens and Zander Tinney combined for all 16 first quarter points. Each would wind up with 30 points.

Gold-Burg had chances to stay in the game but was whistled for three charging calls in the first half alone. While Bryson made 7-14 first quarter shots , the visitors were just 2-12 to keep the Bears down 16-5 after one.

The visitors got within eight before Stephens and Tinney opened up a 9-0 run. Tinney had a pair of buckets and a pair of threes late in the second quarter as Bryson again shot 50 percent from the field while Gold-Burg was 3-12, or 25 percent.The Cowboys took a 37-16 lead at the half.

Ethan Smith and Drake Huffman helped give Stephens and Tinney a break offensively midway through the third but it was Stephens’ pair of three-pointers extend the lead to 59-23.

Bryson would use Jayden Smith and Justin Justus for some help offensively down the stretch as Bryson led by as many as 40.

Gold-Burg would get within 32 but no closer down the stretch.