Bluejays cruise past McPherson
Tabor men thump Bulldogs, 61-40 to break even in KCAC
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
If the Bluejays are going to live up to their projected second place finish in the KCAC, the last thing they need to open conference play is a fall to 0-4.
Looking for the right combination to get more production out of his offense, Tabor coach Don Brubacher decided it was time to juggle his starting lineup.
Brubacher might have found it as the Bluejays (6-5, 2-2 KCAC) stormed in Saturday night and blew out the McPherson Bulldogs, 61-40.
"We've been doing better with getting more people involved in our offense," Don Brubacher said. "We changed our style of play in the last week and it's a style that will suit us better and get more people involved."
The only way the game could've started any worse for the Bulldogs would have been if they'd scored a basket for the Bluejays.
Twelve minutes into the game, McPherson had only mustered four points.
After breaking even at 3-3, Tony Monson sparked an 11-1 run for Tabor while the Bulldogs put up bricks.
"Some of that we were fortunate," said Don Brubacher. "We gave up some open looks, they just couldn't hit. But I think we did a good job of guarding them."
Tabor must have, limiting the Bulldogs to a paltry 6-for-24 from the field the first half, 29 percent for the game.
That gave the Bluejays a chance to punish McPherson on the backboard, blowing the Bulldogs out, 32-8 with Tabor using a 14-0 edge on second chance points.
Pat Miller pulled down a game-high eight to help the Bluejays double the Bulldogs in rebounding, 48-24. Chris Metcalf and Monson each hauled in seven rebounds.
Grant Brubacher and Scott Shaffer dumped game-highs of 12 points on the Bulldogs with Brubacher dishing out a game-high five assists.
He was also a perfect 4-for-4 from downtown as Tabor blistered the Bulldogs with 46 percent outside.
Shaffer canned a triple with 5:24 left in the first half, giving Tabor it largest lead of the half, 26-9.
A basket by Shaffer with just under 1:00 to go sent Tabor in with a commanding 32-16 lead at the break.
Protecting a lead has proved costly for the Bluejays lately and it nearly looked like the Bulldogs would claw their way back into the game to start the second half, cutting the lead to 35-22.
But Grant Brubacher would have something to say about McPherson getting back in, draining two consecutive threes to put Tabor in front, 41-22.
"We gave up a little stretch that cut our lead," said Don Brubacher. "That was our bad stretch in the game.
"If we'd have given up another 15-point run, it would've been a close enough game that a mistake here or there would have made a difference."
Grant Brubacher knocked down his final three with 4:38 left, pushing Tabor's lead as deep as 56-34.
To sum up the night for Tabor, reserve Jared Reese tossed up a three at the buzzer that managed to go in.
The Bluejays close out 2004 Saturday when they travel to Division II Emporia State for a 7 p.m. tip-off against the Hornets.
