EUGENE, ORE. — The Bushnell Beacons men's basketball team (9-9) faced off against the Warner Pacific Knights (5-13) on Thursday evening. The Beacons came in trying to defend their home, Dave Lipp Court at the Morse Center, riding a one-game win streak. The Knights came in trying to snap a seven-game losing streak. This was the final game between these teams and a rematch of the Dec. 6 game that saw the Beacons win 86-76.
After letting up an early 3, the Beacons responded with a Squeeky Johnson triple of their own. The action continued back and forth with an aggressive offense by both teams. After an early media timeout, the Beacons were leading 13-11 just over three minutes into the game.
The first half continued to be scrappy as the refs were not afraid to blow their whistles at contact. The fast game continued with each team getting points, but the Beacons were out-rebounding the Knights 13-10, leading to a 20-16 game halfway through the first.
The game slowed down after a Warner Pacific timeout, with both teams locking in on defense. Bushnell was able to get some tough buckets in the paint behind a strong effort from Cory Johnson that made it 25-17.
The Beacons began to pull away with big 3s from Johnson, Johnson, and freshman Keenan Reckamp, who hit one from logo range that sent the Morse Center to its feet. The Beacons ended the first half shooting 42 percent compared to 29 percent for the Knights, who were struggling from the field. The half ended 38-26 with the Beacons leading.
The second half started with quick points by the Knights' resident Australian, Josh Lincoln. Bushnell's big man, Ashton Harvey, who missed most of the first half, then responded with a free throw. The Knights' Jurrien Sparks made an athletic lay-up to extend his team-leading point total to 11. The Beacons kept pace by spreading the ball around while draining their free throws as they led 45-33.
The court really opened up after that, with both teams letting the ball fly. The Knights, trying to cut into the Beacons' lead, attempted to get the 3-balls going, but the close-out defense from the Beacons kept them at bay. Bushnell's offense was leaning on Cory Johnson, who was in his bag of tricks, pulling out a few slick dribble moves that got him easy buckets.
Bushnell's defense held the Knights' Tyson Parker to only two points, impressive because he is usually at the top of the score sheet for the Knights. The Beacons kept pressing with excellent passing, creating open buckets for their teammates. While they were holding it down on defense, out-boarding the Knights 37-30 with the game a comfortable 60-43 for the Beacons.
The Beacons pulled away to a 26-point lead after three consecutive makes by Harvey with seven minutes left. With five minutes to go, every player on the Beacons had scored a point after a Jacob Martinez 3-pointer. With the lead so big, Bushnell was able to slow the pace of the game while contesting every shot that the Knights had, which it seems like they did all game. In the last five minutes, the Beacons put on a rebounding clinic with excellent box-outs down low and timely bounces on the outside.
“I think it was a big part of the emphasis, getting in the gaps. We know if we're in the gaps helping each other out there, they are going to make some self-inflicted turnovers,” Cory Johnson said after the game.
The game wrapped up 85-60. Defense, rebounding and timely shooting were out in full force for the Beacons teams as they secured win number 10 in dominant fashion. They had their way in the second half, as it seemed like they could do no wrong.
The Beacons will face Northwest Washington Jan. 30 in Kirkland, WA. The Knights will look to snap their 8-game losing streak vs Corban Jan. 24 in Salem.