Bluejays demolish Bethany
Tabor defense smothers Swedes in 78-44 blowout
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
Bluejay coach Don Brubacher knows better than to get comfortable once his team has a big lead.
With the luck the Bluejays have had protecting a lead this year, its hard to find fault for that.
On more than one occasion, Brubacher has seen Tabor jump out to a commanding lead, only to end up blowing it in games the Bluejays are capable of winning.
Finally, on Saturday in hostile Lindsborg, the Bluejays (18-8, 12-4 KCAC) were actually able to extend a lead against the Bethany Swedes and ride it to an easy victory.
Tabor used a potent defense to hold the Swedes to a putrid 26 percent from the floor in a 78-44 route.
"I would say our defense played very well," Brubacher said. "That is clearly the best defensive effort we've made this year. We've had stretches in a number of games where I think we've played on that level, but we have not all year long played on that level for 40:00.
"I'm very surprised at the margin. Bethany's a good team. I didn't expect anything like this at all."
The victory adds even more fire to tonight's game in Hillsboro against the Sterling Warriors that will decide the league's front runner.
It was hard to believe the Swedes were the same team that dealt Tabor a crushing 69-63 home loss Jan. 13.
The Bluejays seemed to dominate the game from start to finish. It wasn't just one player getting involved in the offense — it was everybody — with seven finishing with eight points or more.
Martin deBoer scored a team-high 13 points, and Andy Brubacher chipped in 10.
"When we have played well, our bench has always played well," said Don Brubacher. "We have never had a good outing when our bench has had a poor showing. We rely on our bench play and it was really extraordinary tonight."
Bethany, mainly from the play of Ronny Mitchell, who had a game-high 15 points, was able to stay within shouting distance of Tabor some of the first half.
His free throw with 6:26 left in the first half pulled the Swedes to 17-12 before the dam started cracking.
Brad Gattis ignited a 14-1 spurt that pushed the Bluejay lead to 31-13 at the 2:38 mark.
The Swedes went on to outscore Tabor 6-1 the rest of the way for a 32-19 deficit at the break.
Bethany had good looks, nothing seemed to fall, shooting 24 percent the first half and turning the ball over 11 times.
Back-to-back baskets from Trevor Voss and Nick Burgess got the Swedes back within single digits to start the second half, 32-23.
Their magic seemed to fizzle out after that as deBoer muscled his way around inside to push Tabor's lead back out to double digits barely 4:00 in.
Unlike Jan. 13, the Bluejays were able to finish around the basket offensively and give the Swedes headaches defensively.
That was big for the Bluejays, using a 9-0 run to stretch the lead 56-32 with 10:36 left as Bethany spent almost an entire half without a basket.
Jared Reese has had few chances to contribute this season off the bench.
Saturday, he came in to score a season-high 12 points, scoring some key baskets throughout the game.
"The style of game that Bethany plays I thought that Jared would contribute a great deal to our offensive effort especially," Don Brubacher said. "He did. He played very well. He passed the ball well and moved well off the ball."
Scott Shaffer fueled eight unanswered points for Tabor to make it a comfy 69-41 game with under 5:00 left.
The Bluejays then went on to outscore the Swedes 9-3 to cruise to the huge win, blistering Bethany for 58 percent shooting the second half and 46 on the night.
Paced by six rebounds each from Gattis, and Grant Brubacher, Tabor controlled the glass, too, 41-28, with the Bluejays getting 12 offensively.
"It's one of the most wonderful feelings I've ever had coaching," said Don Brubacher of his team protecting its lead. "We actually maintained a lead and built on it for the first time this year."
The Bluejays face the Warriors tonight at 8 p.m. before closing out the regular season at home Saturday in a 7 p.m. meeting with Ottawa.
