Bitter Ending to Memorable Season For Bayless

Just one year ago, Bayless ended its season at 7-19. When the Bronchos reflect on this season, however, and see a final mark of 23-7, they will realize how stunning and pronounced the turnaround was.

But given the circumstances surrounding the final game of this season, bittersweet emotions are certainly understandable. Bayless lost its Class 3 quarterfinal to Charleston, 82-66, on Saturday in Poplar Bluff, MO in a game that saw an incredible disparity in free-throw attempts.

Charleston went 36-for-46 from the line while the Bronchos were 2-for-9. Bayless also had to play with most of their seven players in foul trouble. As a result, it is Charleston making the trip to the Class 3 semifinals at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, MO.

“It is frustrating. It is hard to describe. I’ve never seen anything like that in over 20 years of coaching. Never in my life,” said head coach Pat Triplett. “Until I learn how to guard the free-throw line, it is going to be hard. You have three officials, and they need to let the kids decide the game. But Charleston came out and did what they had to do.”

Senior Enis Mehmedovic made six 3-pointers and scored 23 points to lead Bayless. His 60-foot shot just before halftime reduced Charleston’s halftime lead to 42-36. Enis’ brother, freshman Edin Mehmedovic, added 21 points and 15 rebounds.

“There was nothing we could have done differently. We put up 68 points, and that usually will win you the ballgame," Triplett said. “When your opponent goes to the line 46 times and scores 36 points from the line, there’s nothing you can do.”

Gregory Tucker scored a game-high 34 points for Charleston (24-5). The Bronchos pulled within 59-54 early in the final period, but the free throws proved too much to overcome.

Triplett said his players seemed to realize they did everything they could do, and did not express much anger following the game.

“The only anger came from me. The players knew they gave everything they had, and they were not upset. All year, they played as hard as they could to make that trip to Columbia,” Triplett said. “They did nothing in that game to tell me that they were not playing to go to Columbia. They were not second-guessing. It was an upbeat bus ride back.”

Bayless loses just three seniors, and with Edin Mehmedovic and Triplett’s son, Patrick, coming back after very productive freshman seasons, high hopes will mark the offseason. Edin led the Bronchos this season with averages of 17.5 points and 13.2 rebounds per game. Triplett averaged 10 points per game.

Triplett said coaching the Mehmedovic brothers was a special experience.

“The senior (Enis) made the brother (Edin) even better than what he was. Throwing the ball in the post is a lost art, and he (Enis) was able to do that, along with some of our other kids. The last five games, he (Edin) was my man-child,” said Triplett.

“Those two freshman have played at a high level together for three years now because of AAU ball. I have four more freshmen who played together in JV ball. So we’ll back to where we were in about two years.”