Bakersfield pulls away from Stockdale
| Friday, Jan 27 2012 11:16 PM
Last Updated Friday, Jan 27 2012 11:19 PM
Images
Bakersfield star Tyrone Wallace falls to the court as he goes for a loose ball between Stockdale defenders Chris Ross (30), and Alex Williams at the Driller gym.
Stephon Newsome of BHS goes in for an uncontested lay up against Stockdale at the Driller gym.
Driller Derrick Brown gives a look to Stockdale's Delfino Romero before driving to the basket.
Keith McCants of Stockdale drives past Bakersfield's Tyrone Wallace in third period action at the Driller gym.
Special to The Bakersfield Californian
The Bakersfield High boys basketball team didn't change its game plan after a sloppy first half Friday night.
What the Drillers did alter was their focus on hanging onto to the ball.
That was enough to propel BHS to a 74-56 Southwest Yosemite League victory over visiting Stockdale.
The Drillers, who committed 16 turnovers in the first half, had only one in the second half as they broke open a tight game and pulled away for a victory.
"We talked about it, but we really didn't change anything we did," Bakersfield coach Greg Burt said. "It was just executing it. We didn't go to a different press break. It was the same press break. It was just the kids focusing on the reads they have to make. And then we did a much better job in the second half."
Derrick Brown led BHS with 19 points. University of California-bound Tyrone Wallace added 18 for the Drillers, who led 34-33 at halftime.
"They were playing harder than us," Wallace said. "In the second half we caught the ball and were more aggressive. We were more decisive making our passes, being strong with the ball."
The Drillers led by eight early in the second quarter before the Mustangs' pressure enabled them to get back in the game.
Four quick BHS turnovers spurred a 9-0 Stockdale run that included eight free-throw attempts by the Mustangs.
Stockdale made 13 of 19 afree throwse as it outscored the Drillers 23-20 in the second quarter.
But Bakersfield regained the lead 26-24 with 3:08 left in the first half on Brown's short jump shot off an inbound pass from Landon Goesling.
Brown continued his hot shooting in the second half, scoring seven quick points, including a 3-pointer and a dunk early in the third quarter as BHS extended its lead to nine heading to the final eight minutes.
The Drillers continued their onslaught by pressuring Stockdale into seven fourth-quarter turnovers, leading to numerous transition baskets.
"We gave up 48 points in the paint," Stockdale coach Oliver Brown said. "You can't let that happen...I told the guys, that's a redwood tree over there. You have to keep chopping at it. And we didn't keep chopping. We took one swing and then we wouldn't take another one. You got to keep going at it with an ax."
Bakersfield and Stockdale came into the night tied for second place in the SWYL, one game behind Liberty. The Drillers beat the Patriots 49-46 in a non league game earlier this year.
"It was a great win for us tonight but our whole focus is getting better every day," Burt said. "And we feel like if we continue to do that then the scoreboard, (and) everything else is going to take care of itself.
Against Stockdale on Friday night, BHS shot 52.6-percent (30-of-57) from the field despite making only 4-of-16 three point attempts.
Stockdale shot 42.2-percent (19-of-45) from the floor and was 1-of-6 behind the arc.
Wallace had 11 of his 18 points in the second half.
"In the first half I got some pretty good looks but I picked up two fouls early and had to sit with about five minutes left in the second quarter," Wallace said. "In the second half I wanted to come out and stay aggressive and it showed."
It was while was Wallace was on the bench that Stockdale was able to claw its way back into the game.
"We played hard," Brown said. "We played hard both halves. I'm proud of the guys. We came in here and battled. This is a tough place to play."
