Broadneck advances to Bogle tourney final at Glen Burnie

The Broadneck Bruins (6-1) advanced to the finals of the 8th annual J.T. Bogle Christmas Tournament at Glen Burnie High School on Monday night with an 80-74 win over North County (4-3) in a fast paced contest that saw seven players reach double figures on the night.

Broadneck will now face host Glen Burnie, which defeated Dulaney in Monday’s other semifinal, in Tuesday’s championship game.

Bobby Bates led the Bruins with 27 points, 17 of which came in the second half, and the senior sharp-shooter nailed four threes for coach John Williams.

North County’s Jordan Kess had a big night for the Knights, leading all scorers with 31 markers, 12 of which came in a furious fourth quarter, as the two teams combined for 51 points.  Kess hit two treys and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the last eight minutes as the Knights made a run at the Bruins, but they came up short.

Kess hit two free throws with sixteen seconds left, but Bates answered on the other end of the floor at the stripe to hold off the Knights.

“We just knew we had to box out, play defense, and rebound, and we did that and came out with the win,” said Bates.  “We like to push it. We had some trouble getting back on defense, and that’s how they scored a lot of points. We knew we had to cut that off, and once we did, we got up.”

Williams praised the play of the Knights.  

“North County is a very tough ball club. They’re disciplined, athletic, and well-coached so we’re lucky to get away with a win.

“Tonight, I think the fourth quarter helped us out.  We took some good shots, took care  of the ball, knocked down some free throws, and we’re pretty fortunate to walk away with a victory.”

North County held a a 22-20 lead after a frenzied first quarter, as Kess poured in ten points for the Knights, and Brooks Wiggans answered with nine for the Bruins.

Bates caught fire in the second quarter with two threes and a deuce, and James Aorilio came off the bench to score seven quick points that gave his team the lead at the half. 37-31.

Matthew Baker, who finished with 19 for coach Andy Lazzor’s Knights, had a nine-point fourth quarter that kept the Knights close.

Senior Kevin Jackson, a former member of coach Jeff Cheevers’s Cardinal Gibbons team last season, had 13 for North County.  Jackson’s former varsity soccer coach, VJ Keith was on the opposing bench, serving as an assistant coach for Broadneck.

Taquan Colbart had 12 for the Bruins, and Darnell Solomon and Wiggans added 11.

In its victory, Glen Burnie received double digit scoring from five different players with Jamar Kane leading the way with 18 points  Robert Pierce, William Brown and Larry Mike all scored 12 points, while Brandon Spain netted 10.