Bryson boys beat Prairie Valley

Anytime you can have a poor night shooting and still pull out a convincing win is a good night.

Bryson’s boys shot just 30% (12-of-40) in the first half and managed to have a 31-9 lead at halftime. The big lead helped as visiting Prairie Valley caught a hot hand in the second half to make things interesting. The Cowboys pulled away late, however, in a 68-39 victory.

Bryson coach Mark McCorkle was willing to take the win but not without reservations.

“Their third quarter killed us and we knew it was going to happen,” McCorkle said. “We came through in the fourth quarter and took the ball to the hole.”

The Cowboys missed their first seven shots and still managed to take a 14-1 lead late in the first quarter. Caleb Allen and Maurice Reiter led the charge with two baskets each. 

Bryson crashed the boards hard in the first half, out-rebounding the Bulldogs, 23-12, including 10-2 on the offensive end. Prairie Valley picked up its first basket early in the second quarter but Bryson used baskets from Gavin Sadler and Jameson Pierce to push the lead to 24-3.

Reiter and Evan Ford closed the half strong with baskets from both inside and outside as the Cowboys had the 31-9 lead at halftime.

Prairie Valley matched Bryson point for point for most of the third quarter. Ford’s 3-pointer and three Pierce baskets helped extend the lead to 25 at one point. After a nine-point first half, the Bulldogs nearly tripled their offense in the third quarter but still were down 46-26 to open the fourth quarter.

Prairie Valley got within 13 early in the fourth before Bryson went on a tear. Sadler and Pierce matched baskets for most of the quarter, each having three. They got plenty of help, however, with Reiter and Jacob Hearne coming through as well.

Pierce tossed in 17 points to lead three Cowboys in double figures. Reiter had 16 points and Sadler 12.