The boys’ basketball team Bellefonte made their first 2-0 start since the 2018 season.
The Raiders defeated the bald eagle region (65-56) at home on Monday evening with the help of two 20-point performances.
A pair of seniors helped Bellefonte beat their rival for the fourth straight year against the Eagles, which dates back to February 2020. Blair Eckley Jones hit a game high of 22 points in victory and Gannon Brungard hit his career high of 21 to push the Raiders to victory.
“Great start to the season” said Brungard offensively after his big night. The senior striker knocked five out of six free throws to the ground and rotated phenomenally throughout the night. “It is a step in the right direction in which we want to go. Hopefully we will keep applying the pressure. We have a tough road ahead of us, we have to keep working. “
Bellefonte’s double-digit win over the Eagles comes after he took to the streets stunned the Wildcats of Central Mountain. Brungard scored 13 in the win over CM on Friday. The Raiders’ slasher jumped on points as a result of open looks. Brungard said he was motivated to play against his team’s rival.
“It just happened. My teammates found me and I fired my shots.” “I love playing against bald eagles; they are our rival. It’s a great win “, said Brungard.
The Raiders led from the beginning to the end of the competition when the scoreboard showed all zeros. Bellefonte was buoyed by Brungard and Eckley-Jones’ performances early on, as the two had the Raiders 13 ahead by the end of the first quarter.
We had a tough first quarter. I think we had a lot of nerves, a lot of nervousnessEagles coach Kris Glunt said after his side’s defeat. “Overall, however, I think that this was a step in the right direction for us, I think the effort was there. Bellefonte is obviously very talented, they are experienced. We try to just take steps forward every day. We are never satisfied with a loss. I think there were a few things we could build on. “
Bald Eagle, on top with 12 points from Blaze Angellotti, kept it competitive in the second quarter. Tyler Serb, who finished with eight points and played a great game defensively, knocked down a 3-pointer at the start of the second to reduce the Raider’s lead.
“I think Tyler Serb was the guy we relied on later in the game to resist. I think he did a great job; he played many minutes. We definitely have to keep getting better. Bellefonte is very talented and they will have a great year. That was a great test for us to start the season. “ said Glunt.
The Bellefonte offense was just too much for the Eagles to contain the first half. The combination of Brungard and Eckley-Jones inside coupled with the guard game of Ty Kroell and Nicholas Way overwhelmed the young Eagles team.
At the break, Bellefonte kept a lead of 11 points.
Serb went on to hit his second deep ball of the game to start the fourth. After the Serbian got the Eagles in the single digits with his 3-pointer, it was Bellefonte who left the rest of the way. Brungard took over the fourth quarter as the Eagles couldn’t hold the senior.
“I would say it’s a win. I thought Bald Eagle outsmarted us. They played better than us and played better. But it’s a win “, Bellefonte trainer Rick Hall said. “I think they care, but you can’t play like that and expect to win.”
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