The basket looked like a pool for Broadneck High’s boys’ basketball team Tuesday evening, especially from behind the arc. The Bruins used the long ball to dismantle No. 12 Old Mill, 79-48, in an Anne Arundel County league match in Cape St. Claire.
Broadneck (8-1 overall, 3-1 Anne Arundel) rained down 10 three-pointers as it dominated last year’s Class 4A state finalists from the opening tip. Bruins coach John Williams saw his team served notice as a contender in the Anne Arundel County title chase.
“A lot of credit to our kids,” said Williams. “I think they came out tonight with something to prove and when we play as a unit we can be pretty dangerous and we shot the ball particularly well tonight. When you shoot the ball the way we did tonight you better than what you really are.”
“We just didn’t come out to play basketball,” said Old Mill coach Greg Smith. “They [Broadneck] came out with a very good game plan and executed and shot the lights out of the ball and we figured that they would go into a funk and they never did.”
The Bruins dropped their first seven three-pointers, opening up a 47-30 halftime advantage. Broadneck held the Millersville school to its lowest output of the season.
“We were getting great looks at the basket and we missed some easy lay-ups that lead to our downfall,” said Old Mill senior Eric Savage who led his team in scoring with 18 points.
Senior Brooks Wiggans led the offensive explosion for Broadneck as he poured in a game-high 20 points in the win. Not far behind in scoring for Broadneck was Bobby Bates who chipped in with 18 points, seven assists and two steals.
“We knew had to play tight defense,” said Bates. “We just had to lock them down and get some easy lay-ups.
“They played with heart and intensity for 32 minutes and there was never a point where we competed with them,” said Smith. “We didn’t do a lot things right and they did.”
Broadneck junior Darnell Solomon posted a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks as he helped lead the defensive efforts for the Bruins alongside teammate Taquan Colbert who added 10 points, seven boards and two steals.
“We wanted to a good start, said Wiggans. “Getting up big on Old Mill is always important and we know how dangerous they can be and getting a nice cushion like we did and our threes were just falling.”
Savage tried to rally the Patriots, scoring 14 of his 18 eight points in the first half. It wasn’t enough as the Patriots fell to 5-2 overall, 3-1 in Anne Arundel.
“Eric [Savage] is a leader and you are going to look to him to step up and do things,” said Smith, whose team lost to No. 9 Lake Clifton and routed Northwestern at the IAABO Board 290 Mixer last week in Baltimore City. “He hit some really big shots but no one really followed through with that.”
“I was just trying to do want to do rebounding, assisting, shooting three’s and just putting the ball in the hole,” said Savage.
The Bruins used solid defense to deliver the knockout blow to the Patriots in the third. Broadneck forced seven Patriot turnovers in the quarter, taking the lead to 33 points on the heels of an 18-0 run as they easily broke Old Mill’s full court pressure.
“We came out flat in the third quarter and they [Broadneck] just continued to hit shots right and left and they never gave us the opportunity to go a run,” said Savage.
The Patriots look to bounce back against Chesapeake-Anne Arundel Friday evening. Broadneck will get a non-league challenge Thursday at Urbana of Frederick County before taking on Severna Park Saturday afternoon. Urbana reached the Class 4A state Final Four last season.
“It’s really good to come out to good start like this, but we have to put this win behind us and focus on Urbana,” said Wiggans.
“We have a very tough schedule this week and we when face Urbana it is going to be an awakening for us,” said Williams.
CLICK RELATED VIDEOS TAB FOR HIGHLIGHTS
