Saturday, February 2, 2013

Bryce Ross Scores 31; Tigers Break 13 Game Losing Streak

Worth County's boys broke a 13 game losing streak and Bryce Ross scored 31 points as the Tigers won their Courtwarming game with Princeton 65-57 Friday night. There were a lot of great performances in the game, a breakout game by freshman Chris Alarcon, and enough offensive contributions from everyone to get the win. Worth County got the win despite Brevyn Ross sitting on the bench for extended periods with foul trouble, as he had to guard standout 6'4" player Brant Faulkner, several inches taller than he was.
Bryce Ross scored eight out of Worth County's first 10 points of the game as his pullup shot was working early and he added a steal; he would go on to have 10 in the period. Truman Moore added a backdoor layup after the defense had collapsed on Bryce on one play, Brevyn Ross scored off a Bryce steal, and Chris Alarcon got a putback at the buzzer that put Worth County up 16-14 after one quarter.
Worth County built up a lead in the second quarter as they got contributions from five different people and they were continuing to pressure the ball and get steals. But then Devin Purvis got the hot hand for Princeton, hitting consecutive three pointers and adding a steal as Princeton fought back to take a 31-29 lead at the half. Princeton was also lobbing the ball into Faulkner at will and establishing a 1-2 scoring punch. Bryce Ross scored four in the quarter as he hit from the high post and scored off a Brevyn steal. Brevyn Ross stripped a Blue Tiger of a defensive board for a layup, Cole Parman added a 3-pointer, and Chris Alarcon scored off a drive. Worth County was trailing at the break, but they had established the kind of balanced scoring that had been sorely lacking this year. When everyone on the floor is a threat to score, then that opens teams up for the kind of scoring nights that Bryce Ross had Friday.
Purvis threatened to take over the game for Princeton, getting eight more points in the third period as the Blue Tigers led by as much as six at one point. But Worth County's newfound balance kept them in the game as Bryce Ross had 9, Brevyn had two points and four steals all leading to scores, and Chris Alarcon had four in the period.  Chris ran the floor well in the period, getting loose twice in transition after steals and Ben Badell came off the bench for a kickout assist and a steal. Worth County forced two quick turnovers late to fight back to within 46-44, giving themselves a chance to win in the fourth.
Brevyn Ross picked up his fourth foul trying to guard Faulkner and sat down right off the bat in the fourth, but Cole Parman hit his second 3-pointer of the night and Andrew Mullock hit Bryce Ross for a cutter that put Worth County in front 49-48. Princeton was lobbing the ball into Faulkner in Brevyn's absence and they went up 50-49, but then Chris Alarcon got loose on a drive for two free throws and Cole Parman, in transition, was obviously feeling it as he pulled out instead of going to the rim and hit a 3-pointer to put Worth County up 54-50. Adam Konopasek-Wilmes' banked three-pointer cut it to one, but Bryce Ross hit a pullup to make it 56-53 with 4:22 left in the game.
Truman Moore, who had been quiet for much of the game, suddenly got a putback and a backdoor layup off a Brevyn Ross drive to make it 60-54 and Chris Alarcon made it three possessions at 61-54 with 1:18 left as Princeton started fouling. Brevyn Ross picked up his fifth foul and Princeton began chipping away with a free throw; Worth County threw a bad pass and Faulkner's off-balance shot from outside was ruled over the line and Worth County was still up two possessions at 61-57 with 22.9 seconds left. That meant that Worth County was still in good shape despite a lane violation on a one and one. Konopasek-Wilmes' 3-pointer that would have made it one point was in and out and Truman Moore got the defensive board and was fouled. He missed a one and one, but Bryce Ross got the offensive board and went four for four from the line in the last 20 seconds to seal the win.

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