BCHS wins first boys basketball title
| Sunday, Mar 08 2009 03:04 AM
Last Updated Wednesday, Mar 25 2009 06:16 PM
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The BCHS Eagles celebrate their Boys Division IV Championship after defeating Kingsburg 81-55 at Selland Arena in Fresno on Saturday afternoon.
FRESNO -- A goal for the Bakersfield Christian High boys was to not over-think about the importance of Saturday's Central Section Division IV championship game.
"On our board we had it as just another game," said senior guard Colby Herron. "We didn't try to make it special."
But it was special. The Eagles put an exclamation point on their run through the section playoffs with another dominant performance. The 81-55 win over Kingsburg in Selland Arena gave BCHS the first boys basketball section title in the school's history.
Three times in five previous seasons, including the last two years, the Eagles (21-7) were beaten in the finals.
"Our goal this year was to get over the hurdle," said BCHS coach Pete Rivera. "Our guys were not going to be denied today."
The Eagles started four seniors and freshman point guard Tyler Harris. Senior guard Marcus Hall had an outstanding game: 36 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. He had 24 points in the first half, hitting 9-of-12 shots.
"When a player goes off like that, you don't have to rely on everyone else being on," said Herron, who had a solid game with 21 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
"It felt great, but the team found me open and just got me the ball," Hall said.
Kingsburg (19-12) simply was no match for the Eagles' superior quickness and athleticism. Hall and Herron were a combined 8-of-15 on 3-pointers, and the intangible of their leadership abilities was invaluable, Rivera said.
"They are unbelievable players. Just awesome," Rivera said. "I told them they had to take their games to another level. ... I wish the city of Bakersfield would recognize them a lot more. We're a small division team. The other guys (from bigger schools) get all the press. But Colby and Marcus can play with anybody in town."
BCHS never trailed. It was 24-9 after one quarter and the lead remained at least 11 the rest of the way.
In their three playoff victories, the Eagles' closest win was by 22 points. The average margin was 27.5 points.
"This year we played solid defense. We've done that all year," Hall said.
A major part of the Eagles' defensive game plan was trying to contain Kingsburg junior Tyler Bray, a 6-foot-6 shooting guard who averages 19.3 points per game. Bray had only six first-half points and 12 in the game.
Rivera initially put 6-foot-3 senior Aryton Oliver on Bray, then switched to 6-3 Hall after Oliver banged up his elbow and got into foul trouble.
"He (Bray) has not faced anyone like this all year," Rivera said. "(Bray's) done that against smaller guys or bigger guys who are slow in the paint. Those two were quick and he couldn't develop his game. That was the key: stopping him."
