BV boys use denial defense to secure road win

The Lynx boys took care of business Friday inside the Bob Jostad Gymnasium, where they roared to a 60-35 Eastern South Dakota Conference win over Brookings (1-6).

And while the end score was a bit lopsided, Brandon Valley coach Brent Deckert said the key to Friday’s win – the team’s sixth to date – was  their defense.

“We got off to a hot start and we were great defensively all night,” he said. “I wouldn’t say that we ran away with it and I wouldn’t say that we played great. I would say that we played really good defensively and we rebounded really well. I don’t think we executed really well. I just think that we did some things to them defensively to get some run outs and some easy baskets, and after we got off to early start, I don’t think it really mattered what they did after that, so I think the end was inevitable.”

The Lynx drilled the net for 12 consecutive points late in the first quarter en route to establishing a 21-11 lead. BV’s defense continued to create opportunities on the offensive end of the floor, leading the Lynx to 34-18 and 46-25 leads at halftime and after three quarters of play. 

BV out-scored their hosts 15-10 in the fourth to close out the victory.

The Lynx pressure defense may have been too much for one of Brookings’ main scoring threats. Deckert said he literally saw the will to play disseminate. 

“I think about midway through the second quarter, maybe late in the first, just our one-on-one denial pressure (was more than enough), and he was done,” Deckert said. “He was just basically, ‘I’ll let someone else bring it up,’ and once their best player starts putting their head down a little bit, the rest of them are going to follow suit, and that’s kind of what happened.”

Brookings’ head coach Travis Engebretson acknowledged BV’s defensive pressure, noting the Lynx heavily dictated their offense, forcing the Bobcats into fundamental errors in passing and decision making.

The Lynx were guided offensively by Jackson Hilton, who scored 13 points. Both Jaxon LaBrie and Jaksen Deckert accounted for seven points, while Gavin Terhark and Jay Jurgens netted six points apiece.

BV shot 57 percent from the floor (21-37) and got 17 points at the free throw line out of 24 opportunities, a 71 percent performance. 

The Bobcats had the edge on the boards, 42-30. Thomas Scholten, Terhark and Jurgens all had four to their credit; Payton Tietjen latched onto three, while Hunter Marso and Aydin Lloyd both had two.

Dawson Johnson, Scholten and Joe Kolbeck were all credited with two of the team’s 11 assists. Hilton and Tietjen got a hand on three and two, respectively, of BV’s dozen steals. Tietjen had a hand on two blocks and Jurgens had one.

BV turned the ball over 10 times.

Brookings was 12-of-48 from the field and turned the ball over 20 times – 15 of which came on steals.

Trent Broksieck dropped in 18 points, and Deckert said the Bobcat earned every one of his points. “We made him take tough shots,” he said. 

Henry Hammrich scored 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting.

Brookings charted three assists, four steals, and one blocked shot.

The Lynx head into the “meat” of their season this month, and they’re doing so injury- and illness-free, Deckert said. 

“Right now, as far as I know, everything’s good. I don’t think we have any injuries or sicknesses or anything like that. We just got some kids that are mad that school’s starting again because the semester tests are over so it’s time to time to get to work here and get it taken care of right off the get go,” he said.

After playing at Roosevelt Tuesday, the Lynx boys continue their road schedule with a girl-boy doubleheader at Watertown on Thursday. The Lynx return to their home court Jan. 23 to face Brookings for a second time.

 

Brandon Valley 21 34 45 60

Brookings 11 18 25 35

 

Brandon Valley (2PFG, 3PFG, FT, TP): Jaxon LaBrie 1-2 0-2 5-7 7; Jaksen Deckert 2-2 0-0 3-5 7; Ty Westcott 1-1 0-0 0-0 2; Nate Lear 1-2 0-0 0-0 2; Joe Kolbeck 0-0 0-0 4-6 4; Hunter Marso 1-1 0-0 1-2 3; Aydin Lloyd 1-3 1-3 0-0 5; Payton Tietjen 2-2 0-0 1-5 5; Jackson Hilton 2-4 3-6 0-0 13; Gavin Terhark 3-4 0-2 0-0 6; Jay Jurgens 3-3 0-0 0-0 6. Totals: 17-24 4-13 14-25 60.