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loss to Saint Jo Saturday afternoon. Bryson plays in the Gorman Tournament later this week, Dec. 1 through Dec. 3.
The host Cowboys had a cold day shooting and fell victim to a tenacious Saint Jo defense to boot, the visitors lead 18-3 after one and coasting to a 66-37 win Saturday, Nov. 26 at Cowboys Gym.
The ‘Pokes fall to 2-5 with Saint Jo upping its ledger to 2-2. Bryson Coach Jeff Browning said playing a lot of basketball in a short time without the squad’s legs fully under them is showing.
“We are slowly trying to hit our stride,” Browning offered. “Our second half we started to play. We just can’t get in a hole early and try to pick it up later in the game.”
Browning sees a lot of flashes of good things happening but consistency will be the key throughout the entire game.
Evan Ford’s three-pointer was the only Bryson points of the first and was also the first Cowboy shot of the game. Bryson missed its last eight from the floor in the frame.
Collin Thomas staked the Panthers to a 5-0 lead 90 seconds into the contest to lead wireto- wire. The lead was up to 11 with 2:30 left in the first. Bryson ended a stretch of 10 missed shots with a pair of Ford three-pointers.
It would prove to be much of the offense in the first half. Brice Durham equaled him from outside and added a bucket to pace Saint Jo taking a 32-9 lead midway through the second and causing Browning to take a timeout.
The respite helped and would spawn some more spirited play from the Cowboys. Three points each from Cash Bowen and a Chance Hand trey gave Ford some help but the ‘Pokes were still down 43-15.
Bowen came out in the second half and put his height to good use, coming through with a pair of baskets sandwiched around Ford’s fourth three of the game to keep things from getting out of hand.
After being outrebounded 27-9 in the first half, Bryson cut the gap to 48-25 for the game.
Still the offense had its shortcomings. Bryson going 5-15 in the third quarter and 4-11 shooting in the fourth to end 14-45, or 31% from the field. After taking 48 shots in the first half, the Panthers took barely half that in the second to finish 29-74 from the floor, or 39%.
Ford led the Cowboys with 17 points with Bowen tossing in 11 points and seven rebounds.
Bryson travels to Gorman for tournament play later this week, Dec. 1-3.
Photo/Brian Smith
