Bluejays' perimeter game too much for Bulldogs
BY RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
The last time the Bluejays met the McPherson Bulldogs Dec. 1 in Hillsboro, Tabor's perimeter game looked like it was ready for the upcoming semester break.
Tabor's three-point shooting was ice-cold as the Bulldogs handed the Bluejays their first KCAC loss of the season, 73-66.
Nine weeks to the date later, Saturday in McPherson, the Bluejays had a chance at retribution.
This time, a poor shooting game from outside the arc was in favor of the Bluejays as they hit a sizzling 56 percent from downtown in a 67-54 win over the Bulldogs.
"We're playing better basketball in every respect," said Bluejay coach Don Brubacher speaking on the contrasting styles between the two meetings with the Bulldogs.
In its first meeting with McPherson, Tabor got burned on Roy McDonald's penetration to the basket.
Saturday night, the Bluejays' defense had McDonald handcuffed, holding him to a chilling 2 of 8 from the field and just four points.
"We guarded dribble penetration better than what we did at our place," Brubacher said. "We especially limited number-12 (McDonald) more than we did the last time. He was the leading penetrator and the leading playmaker the last time we played."
The win ups Tabor to 11-11 overall and a first place 9-2 in the KCAC.
Once Tabor finally got out of the garage with Scott Brubacher's first of four threes of the night, 4:30 into the game, the Bulldogs tried to slam the Bluejays' emergency brake.
"We really had trouble with consistent play tonight after the first two or three minutes where we played so miserably," said Don Brubacher. "We really did play good basketball at both ends."
Jumping out to a 6-0 lead in the game's first 4:08, McPherson's lead shrunk to 13-6 after Scott Brubacher ignited 13 unanswered points for the Bluejays with their first basket.
McPherson never recovered as Tabor bombarded the Bulldogs with 9-of-14 from outside in the first half to lead 35-29 at the break.
And Scott Brubacher scored 11 of his team-high 14 points in the first half alone.
Tabor's three point shooting in the first half supplied nearly half of its offense with only eight points coming inside.
With Tyson Ratzlaff's first of two triples of the evening at the 8:12 mark putting the Bluejays up 22-16, Tabor was 6 of 9 from long range.
While Tabor's perimeter game flourished, so did the Bulldogs' offensive rebounding which kept them in the game.
By halftime, McPherson had a 5-2 edge offensively in rebounding and an 18-12 lead overall. The Bulldogs would eventually outrebound Tabor, 36-31 with the difference supplied by an 11-6 margin offensively.
Of the 31 rebounds Tabor pulled down, a game-high 11 came from Jeremiah Randall and eight from Ratzlaff.
But McPherson found a way to limit the Bluejays to just four looks at a three in the second half, forcing them to beat them inside.
"The second half we did a better job of getting the ball down low and finishing around the basket," Don Brubacher said."
That was where Ernest Nortey came to life.
Going scoreless in the first half, Nortey scored all 12 of his points in the second half with four points coming off of offensive rebounds.
But the Bluejays' inconsistency helped McPherson stick around the second half.
The Bluejays hit a shooting slump midway through the second half, allowing the Bulldogs to pull to 56-50 after a three from Jose Morales with just over 6:00 left in the game.
"We were just really inconsistent in our play," said Don Brubacher. "We didn't execute well for long stretches of the game on the offensive end and we gave up some big plays on defense."
Minus Bulldog leading scorer Kenny Romero in the line-up, Morales did a good job carrying the load, stinging Tabor for a game-high 20 points and seven rebounds.
Tabor outscored the Bulldogs 11-4 in the closing 6:19 to hang on for the win.
The Bluejays enjoy their next two games at home today against Friends and Saturday against the Bethany Swedes.
Today's action is scheduled for 8 p.m. with Saturday's beginning at 7 p.m.
Southwestern
It didn't even take 8:00 of the first half before the Moundbuilders' boat capsized Thursday night in Hillsboro.
The Bluejays got a 10-0 run to stretch their lead to 22-12, 8:11 into the game on their way to their eight league win in a deceiving 66-51 rout.
Randall scored 15 of his season-game-high 23 points to help send Tabor in at halftime with a commanding 35-21 lead.
Scott Brubacher had his first of two consecutive 14 point games, with 4-for-7 coming from downtown.
The Bluejays' defense harassed Southwestern into shooting a ragged 34 percent from the field and forcing 17 turnovers.
But the Bluejays' shooting game was nothing to crow about either.
Tabor was just 2 for 11 in three point attempts the second half and 42 percent from the field for the night.
Tabor 67, McPherson 54
Tabor — 35 32 67
Mac — 29 25 54
Tabor — S. Brubacher 14, Grant Brubacher 6, Jimmy Janzen 6, Ratzlaff 10, Kyle Kopper 8, Randall 6, Nortey 12, Tyler Brown 3, Derrek Karber 2, Totals 27-54 10-18 3-7 67.
McPherson — R.J. Davis 14, McDonald 4, Morales 20, Chad Kline 2, Brian Hooks 6, Art Baker 8, Totals 23-57 4-18 4-8.
