BRISTOL:
Warriors string together late-season run
By Steve Sherman
Sports Editor
It’s been a tough year for the Bristol boys on the basketball court.
For awhile, it looked like the Warriors were holding their own.
A late season skid that saw Bristol drop four in a row however to Christopher Dock, Lower Moreland, Holy Ghost Prep and Devon Prep really hurt the Warriors’ cause.
“We just have to get a couple more W’s,” said Bristol head coach Tom Ryan on Jan. 28, a day after his team lost a heartbreaker to Dock.
To their credit, the Warriors did string together a few W’s, three in the regular season and the last, a playoff-opening win over Jenkintown in the first round of districts.
Two players have contributed significantly to the late-season tear, specifically seniors Shane Davis and Eric Wade.
On Tuesday night, Davis poured 28 points into the bucket in the Warriors’ district tournament win over Jenkintown. Last week, he drained 20 points in Bristol’s double overtime triumph over New Hope-Solebury (NH-S).
“Shane has played really, really well down the stretch and that has really helped us out,” stated Ryan.
The Warriors finished up their regular season Feb. 10 at home in dramatic fashion, posting a double overtime win over NH-S.
Wade helped by penetrating the Lions’ defense and scoring points from down low. Eric also notched 20 points on the night.
“Eric [Wade] had his way; he posted people up. We did a good job getting him the ball,” stated Ryan. “And he did a good job of making his layups.
“He was cooking!”
The battle, according to Ryan, should have never came to the extra periods as the Warriors were leading the Lions by 5 points heading into the final frame.
“We had a lead and we got silly - we turned the ball over,” said Ryan. “We took bad shots we didn’t close them out.”
New Hope sent the game to an extra session, outpacing Bristol, 15-8, in the last period, hitting a 3-pointer as time ran out to lock the sides at 54-all.
“We played pretty well, overall,” stated Ryan. “We just had our moments when we lost people and couldn’t find them
“And they hurt us - they stuck the three.”
Four players reached double figures against New Hope including Davis and Wade, Carl Strand (14) and Derek Torres (10). Mike McGuire and Anthony Pinelli added 4 points apiece to the Warriors cause.
While it took six periods to complete, Bristol played good enough to win, said their coach.
“We didn’t play real intelligent throughout the whole game,” Ryan explained. “But we played with effort and we were able to get to the basket.
“Plus, they didn’t have an answer for Eric [Wade (20 pts.)]
After winning at Springfield (MontCo) - albeit sloppily - in a game that was marred by 64 fouls, the Warriors strung together back-to-back wins over BAL Independence rivals MaST Charter and New Hope-Solebury, a team that Bristol lost to the first time around.
“We’ve had a few sloppy games coming down the stretch,” admitted Ryan. “But we’ve been able to somehow weather the storm and win.”
In a mid-season battle against Dock that took place late Jan. at their place, the Warriors actually held a 7-point lead with two minutes to go in the fourth quarter only to see the Pioneers outscore them, 16-8, on its way to a 48-44 win.
“We played really, really hard. [It was] probably our best defensive effort all year,” stated Ryan.
“But down the stretch we couldn’t put it away. Too many turnovers, defensive lapses--we let them back in and they took it away”
The sloppy play continued last Saturday Feb. 7 at Springfield when the Warriors needed an extra period to get past the Spartans, a team that entered the contest with but one win (1-20).
Bristol actually led 16-2 in the first half while Springfield didn’t record its first field goal until midway through the first quarter.
Poor shooting, turnovers and fouls hurt the Warriors’ effort in this one. Bristol turned the ball over 28 times and sent the Spartans to the charity stripe 38 times. Springfield didn’t help its cause however, making good on just 17 shots from the foul line.
“That set basketball back about 40 years; it was an absolute ugly game--it had no rhythm to it at all,” said Ryan. “It’s a theme we’ve entertained this season--winning ugly games.
“But a win’s a win.”
The Spartans actually held a 4-point lead late in the fourth period while allowing Bristol to knot the score at 42-all by the final buzzer in regulation. Senior Shane Davis, who recorded a team high 26 points, scored all four points for the Warriors in the extra period.
On Feb. 9 at home, nine players reached the scoring column for the red and white as the Warriors cruised to a 68-54 win over MaST.
Senior Shane Davis led the way with 18 points. Swing-man Mike McGuire posted up with 11 as did Carl Strand, back playing Bristol boys hoops in his final campaign.
Eric Wade also reached double figures with 10 points. Andre Simmons added 9 while Tom Bradley (4), Anthony Pinelli (2), Torrey Adams (2), and Wayne Keys (1) also recorded points for the Warriors.
“We were the better team that night,” stated Ryan. “Everyone contributed; it’s good to get as many kids into the flow as you can in a game like that.”
***
Bristol might have had an easier time getting to a late-round district matchup playing against top seed Faith Christian, fifth seeded Calvary Baptist, Church Farm (No. 4) and Friend Select (No. 8).
“Playing a second seed and a third seed-that’s a tough road to go,” said Ryan.
Of course, the Warriors would still have to beat Faith Christian Academy, a formidable task as Faith is the defending champion and most likely the frontrunner to win the Class A tournament.
Ryan is still scratching his head over Church Farm’s designation as a four seed. While the No. 4 seed finished 13-7 (after starting out 3-7), Ryan says the team didn’t meet the requirement of playing 10 PIAA affiliates in order to gain entrance to districts.
Should Bristol get past Dock tomorrow night, the Warriors would then take on Girard College Tuesday Feb. 4 at a location TBA.
Sports Editor
It’s been a tough year for the Bristol boys on the basketball court.
For awhile, it looked like the Warriors were holding their own.
A late season skid that saw Bristol drop four in a row however to Christopher Dock, Lower Moreland, Holy Ghost Prep and Devon Prep really hurt the Warriors’ cause.
“We just have to get a couple more W’s,” said Bristol head coach Tom Ryan on Jan. 28, a day after his team lost a heartbreaker to Dock.
To their credit, the Warriors did string together a few W’s, three in the regular season and the last, a playoff-opening win over Jenkintown in the first round of districts.
Two players have contributed significantly to the late-season tear, specifically seniors Shane Davis and Eric Wade.
On Tuesday night, Davis poured 28 points into the bucket in the Warriors’ district tournament win over Jenkintown. Last week, he drained 20 points in Bristol’s double overtime triumph over New Hope-Solebury (NH-S).
“Shane has played really, really well down the stretch and that has really helped us out,” stated Ryan.
The Warriors finished up their regular season Feb. 10 at home in dramatic fashion, posting a double overtime win over NH-S.
Wade helped by penetrating the Lions’ defense and scoring points from down low. Eric also notched 20 points on the night.
“Eric [Wade] had his way; he posted people up. We did a good job getting him the ball,” stated Ryan. “And he did a good job of making his layups.
“He was cooking!”
The battle, according to Ryan, should have never came to the extra periods as the Warriors were leading the Lions by 5 points heading into the final frame.
“We had a lead and we got silly - we turned the ball over,” said Ryan. “We took bad shots we didn’t close them out.”
New Hope sent the game to an extra session, outpacing Bristol, 15-8, in the last period, hitting a 3-pointer as time ran out to lock the sides at 54-all.
“We played pretty well, overall,” stated Ryan. “We just had our moments when we lost people and couldn’t find them
“And they hurt us - they stuck the three.”
Four players reached double figures against New Hope including Davis and Wade, Carl Strand (14) and Derek Torres (10). Mike McGuire and Anthony Pinelli added 4 points apiece to the Warriors cause.
While it took six periods to complete, Bristol played good enough to win, said their coach.
“We didn’t play real intelligent throughout the whole game,” Ryan explained. “But we played with effort and we were able to get to the basket.
“Plus, they didn’t have an answer for Eric [Wade (20 pts.)]
After winning at Springfield (MontCo) - albeit sloppily - in a game that was marred by 64 fouls, the Warriors strung together back-to-back wins over BAL Independence rivals MaST Charter and New Hope-Solebury, a team that Bristol lost to the first time around.
“We’ve had a few sloppy games coming down the stretch,” admitted Ryan. “But we’ve been able to somehow weather the storm and win.”
In a mid-season battle against Dock that took place late Jan. at their place, the Warriors actually held a 7-point lead with two minutes to go in the fourth quarter only to see the Pioneers outscore them, 16-8, on its way to a 48-44 win.
“We played really, really hard. [It was] probably our best defensive effort all year,” stated Ryan.
“But down the stretch we couldn’t put it away. Too many turnovers, defensive lapses--we let them back in and they took it away”
The sloppy play continued last Saturday Feb. 7 at Springfield when the Warriors needed an extra period to get past the Spartans, a team that entered the contest with but one win (1-20).
Bristol actually led 16-2 in the first half while Springfield didn’t record its first field goal until midway through the first quarter.
Poor shooting, turnovers and fouls hurt the Warriors’ effort in this one. Bristol turned the ball over 28 times and sent the Spartans to the charity stripe 38 times. Springfield didn’t help its cause however, making good on just 17 shots from the foul line.
“That set basketball back about 40 years; it was an absolute ugly game--it had no rhythm to it at all,” said Ryan. “It’s a theme we’ve entertained this season--winning ugly games.
“But a win’s a win.”
The Spartans actually held a 4-point lead late in the fourth period while allowing Bristol to knot the score at 42-all by the final buzzer in regulation. Senior Shane Davis, who recorded a team high 26 points, scored all four points for the Warriors in the extra period.
On Feb. 9 at home, nine players reached the scoring column for the red and white as the Warriors cruised to a 68-54 win over MaST.
Senior Shane Davis led the way with 18 points. Swing-man Mike McGuire posted up with 11 as did Carl Strand, back playing Bristol boys hoops in his final campaign.
Eric Wade also reached double figures with 10 points. Andre Simmons added 9 while Tom Bradley (4), Anthony Pinelli (2), Torrey Adams (2), and Wayne Keys (1) also recorded points for the Warriors.
“We were the better team that night,” stated Ryan. “Everyone contributed; it’s good to get as many kids into the flow as you can in a game like that.”
***
Bristol might have had an easier time getting to a late-round district matchup playing against top seed Faith Christian, fifth seeded Calvary Baptist, Church Farm (No. 4) and Friend Select (No. 8).
“Playing a second seed and a third seed-that’s a tough road to go,” said Ryan.
Of course, the Warriors would still have to beat Faith Christian Academy, a formidable task as Faith is the defending champion and most likely the frontrunner to win the Class A tournament.
Ryan is still scratching his head over Church Farm’s designation as a four seed. While the No. 4 seed finished 13-7 (after starting out 3-7), Ryan says the team didn’t meet the requirement of playing 10 PIAA affiliates in order to gain entrance to districts.
Should Bristol get past Dock tomorrow night, the Warriors would then take on Girard College Tuesday Feb. 4 at a location TBA.
Labels: boys basketball, Bristol, Bristol boys basketball
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