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Jacob Hearne looks for an outlet as Bryson played Forestburg at home Tuesday, Dec. 13. Photo/Brian Smith -
Jameson Pierce and Evan Ford form a formidable defensive presence Tuesday, Dec. 12. Photo/Brian Smith
Cash Bowen is known as “one big motor” to Bryson Coach Jeff Browning.
The 6’4” Cowboy sophomore roared at home Tuesday, Dec. 13 against Forestburg, coming through with 28 points and 16 rebounds. Bryson got off to a quick start and never looked back in a 66-50 win over the visiting Longhorns.
Bryson goes to 6-5 with the win with Forestburg dropping to 6-6. Browning said he has been liking the play of Bowen this year.
“He’s finally figuring out how to finish down low, coming through with a lot of second chance shots and rebounds from there,” Browning said. “We needed it tonight.”
It was sophomore guard Evan Ford who got the ‘Pokes out to a 4-0 lead with a pair of hoops in the first 45 seconds. Bowen’s pair of baskets was aided by Jameson Pierce and Caleb Allen as the hosts had the lead into double figures within five minutes.
Six points each from Ford and Bowen paced an 8-18 shooting quarter and got Bryson out to a 17-6 lead after one.
Bowen’s defense in forcing the ‘Horns to alter or have their shots blocked was a reason Forestburg shot 3-15 in the first. Things continued to go downhill for the visitors, Bowen and Ford combining for six early points to extend the lead to 17 early in the second.
Forestburg kept things reasonable close the rest of the way, making things interesting before the half with Nathan Payne’s three-pointers helping whittle the lead down to eight for a time. Bowen and Pierce fought back, however, with their late baskets padding the halftime cushion to 3316.
Three Pierce lay-ups and a Chance Hand three-pointer would give the Cowboys their biggest lead at 23 less than three minutes into the second half. Forestburg would keep things interesting, however, with Jesse Wadsworth burying three pointers on four consecutive possessions to help the Longhorns stay competitive with a 6-11 shooting quarter. Bryson was 9-16, however, with Tyler Cotter and Jacob Hearne coming through with baskets to keep the lead at 20, 53-33 to start the fourth.
Forestburg missed its first 10 shots of the final frame, enabling Bowen, Pierce, and Ford to push the lead to 25. With reserves in for the final five minutes, Forestburg cut the lead to 16 on three pointers from Payne and Wadsworth, but it was too little too late.
