Pirates Overcome Slow Start, Top District Foe Bayshore in 4A-10 Opener

Playing its second game in as many nights, the boys basketball needed a little time to gain its composure Tuesday night.

The Pirates rallied back from an early 12-0 deficit and displayed the defensive intensity and balance that may come to define them this season with a 58-49 victory over host in the Class 4A-District 10 opener for both teams. Trevon Young, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, led all scorers with 24 points and was one of four Braden River players with at least eight points in the game.

"I was very proud of them because they could have folded, but that's not this group's mentality," Braden River head coach Matt Nesser said. "I give credit to Bayshore because they came out ready to play. They executed, and we did not have the intensity that we needed to have, especially on the road, to start a game."

Bayshore senior guard Thomas Gish scored seven of his team-high 21 points in the first quarter, but the Bruins (3-3, 0-1 in 4A-10) fell victim to turnovers and found themselves holding only a 14-12 lead after eight minutes. Of Bayshore's 25 turnovers, 17 came in the first half.

"We took care of the basketball, made good passes and ran our offense," Bayshore head coach Warren Bell said. "Then, we had 25 turnovers. That was the difference in the game."

Throughout the night, Braden River switched between a three-quarter-court trap and solid man-to-man defense.

The first-half catalyst for the Pirates (5-2, 1-0 in 4A-10) was guard Tre Bryant, who scored 11 of his 13 points over the first 16 minutes. Bryant's second 3-pointer of the game gave Braden River a 26-17 lead with 1:03 left in the second quarter.

On their first possession of the third quarter, the Pirates went to Young and set the course for a third quarter that would pit Braden River's two big men against the 5-foot-8 Gish. Young and the 6-7 Jeff Cassens combined for 12 of their team's 14 points in the period, while Gish closed out a 10-point third quarter by pulling the Bruins within three at 38-35 with his third and final 3-pointer.

"(Gish) did a good job of executing our offense when we tried to set it up and not just attack," Bell said. "He did a good job of stepping up and doing the things he is supposed to do. He's been a good leader for us all year." 

The Bruins had a manageable five-point deficit entering the fourth quarter, but the Pirates stretched the lead to 10 within 55 seconds thanks to a 3-pointer by Steven Ross. Bayshore started a 7-1 run midway through the fourth quarter and trailed by four after a pair of free throws by David Scavella with 1:31 remaining.

Following Scavella's second made free throw, the Bruins came up with a turnover of their own. Gish missed an attempt from behind the 3-point arc, and the Pirates were not able to corral the defensive rebound, which gave Bayshore another chance it squandered with a turnover.

Although the Pirates were just 17-for-31 from the free-throw line, they converted nine of their 14 attempts in the fourth quarter. Young was 5-for-9 from the stripe over the final eight minutes and was one of four Braden River players to convert a free throw in the fourth.

"Gish plays hard and is never going to give up," Nesser said. "(Bayshore) isn't going to give up, either. Warren Bell does a great job. That's a good basketball team, and we were fortunate to come out of here with a victory, especially on the road."

BRADEN RIVER (58)

Tre Bryant 4 3-6 13, Thomas Bernhardt 0 1-2 1, Steven Ross 3 1-2 8, Jeff Cassens 4 2-5 10, Trevon Young 7 10-16 24, Javar Baity 0 0-0 0, Eric Foster 1 0-0 2, Alejandro Perelli 0 0-0 0, Brian Bain 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 17-31 58.

BAYSHORE (49)

Thomas Gish 8 2-3 21, Jeremi King 3 2-2 6, David Cruz 1 0-0 2, Jay Terry 1 1-3 3, David Scavella 4 4-7 12, Lesean Green 1 1-2 3, Joel Rogers 0 0-0 0, Daniel Pearson 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 10-17 49.

Braden River 12 14 14 18 - 58

Bayshore 14 5 16 14 - 49

3-point goals - Bryant 2, Ross, Gish 3. Fouled out - Gish. Total fouls - Braden River 21, Bayshore 14. Technicals - None. Records - Braden River 5-2, Bayshore 3-3.