Bowling Green tops Columbia
By Brandon Wright
Bowling Green made its way past Columbia Academy on Friday and into the district finals, topping the host Cougars 73-54 thanks to a dominant third-quarter performance.
Senior Jaron Edwards led the Bucs with 21 points including 15 in the first half. Columbia junior Tanner Pace led all scorers with 22 points including four 3-pointers.
A 3-pointer late in the first quarter by Edwards gave BGS a four-point advantage at the break, which was also the margin at halftime.
BGS head coach Pat King said his team did a good job in the first half of weathering the storm.
“In the beginning, we competed well. They played a triangle-and-two on us, which is kind of a junk defense that we have been working on,” he said. “We weren’t executing very well, but we kept competing on the defensive side. We got a few stops and steals, made a few layups and took a lead at halftime.”
King said he was able to make adjustments at halftime that led to his team’s second-half domination.
After CA cut the lead to two on its first possession of the second half, Bowling Green scored the game’s next 10 points, including six by senior center Shod Fortenberry.
The Bucs’ momentum continued, carrying them to a 16-2 run to open up a 49-33 lead, and the Cougars would get no closer than 13 the rest of the way.
Fortenberry finished with 17 points
King said he was proud of his team for competing the way they did.
“You come into a playoff situation and you play a team that’s hosting the playoffs, you’ve got to compete. You’ve got to match their intensity, match their crowd,” he said. “They throw something at you that isn’t normal, like a triangle-and-two, and we come out and compete and come together and find ways to get it done, yes sir I’m pleased with the way they played.”
A large contingency of Bowling Green faithful made the trip, giving the game an exciting playoff atmosphere.
The win gave BGS a berth in the district finals, also ensuring the Bucs a place in next week’s south AA tournament.
For the district title, though, a tough Brookhaven squad stands in the way. King said that batch of Cougars does everything well.
“Not only are they physically tough, physically in shape, but they’re mentally tough and the kids just know how to win. They execute offensively, they’re not going to beat themselves. Defensively, they’re the best team that we ever play. They guard, they rebound,” he said. “You’re just going to have to play very, very good to beat them and if not, you’re not going to win.”
Senior Jaron Edwards led the Bucs with 21 points including 15 in the first half. Columbia junior Tanner Pace led all scorers with 22 points including four 3-pointers.
A 3-pointer late in the first quarter by Edwards gave BGS a four-point advantage at the break, which was also the margin at halftime.
BGS head coach Pat King said his team did a good job in the first half of weathering the storm.
“In the beginning, we competed well. They played a triangle-and-two on us, which is kind of a junk defense that we have been working on,” he said. “We weren’t executing very well, but we kept competing on the defensive side. We got a few stops and steals, made a few layups and took a lead at halftime.”
King said he was able to make adjustments at halftime that led to his team’s second-half domination.
After CA cut the lead to two on its first possession of the second half, Bowling Green scored the game’s next 10 points, including six by senior center Shod Fortenberry.
The Bucs’ momentum continued, carrying them to a 16-2 run to open up a 49-33 lead, and the Cougars would get no closer than 13 the rest of the way.
Fortenberry finished with 17 points
King said he was proud of his team for competing the way they did.
“You come into a playoff situation and you play a team that’s hosting the playoffs, you’ve got to compete. You’ve got to match their intensity, match their crowd,” he said. “They throw something at you that isn’t normal, like a triangle-and-two, and we come out and compete and come together and find ways to get it done, yes sir I’m pleased with the way they played.”
A large contingency of Bowling Green faithful made the trip, giving the game an exciting playoff atmosphere.
The win gave BGS a berth in the district finals, also ensuring the Bucs a place in next week’s south AA tournament.
For the district title, though, a tough Brookhaven squad stands in the way. King said that batch of Cougars does everything well.
“Not only are they physically tough, physically in shape, but they’re mentally tough and the kids just know how to win. They execute offensively, they’re not going to beat themselves. Defensively, they’re the best team that we ever play. They guard, they rebound,” he said. “You’re just going to have to play very, very good to beat them and if not, you’re not going to win.”
