BonnerSprings.com

Kansas City, Kan. — Barely 24 hours after closing out hard-fought overtime loss to Mill Valley in dramatic fashion, the Bonner Springs boys basketball team lacked the same late-game punch despite earning a 60-49 victory Tuesday against Bishop Ward at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

On Monday, the Braves lost a 65-58 overtime thriller at Mill Valley — a game in which Juan Pichardo buried a guarded, fade-away 3-pointer at the buzzer to force overtime.

Against Ward, the Braves allowed the Cyclones to close the game on a 13-4 run when the Braves grew comfortable with what had been a lopsided advantage.

“We did get out to (a big lead), but we can throw every excuse out there to why we didn’t finish,” coach Ryan Hull said. “The bottom line is that the guys we put on the floor are completely capable of (closing better). We didn’t finish like we wanted, so it doesn’t feel as good as it should, but we will take a win.”

The letdown marred a terrific fourth quarter by sophomore guard Stevie Williams. He scored 11 of his 13 points in the early part of the fourth quarter, and he seemed to have delivered the knockout blow to the home team.

“I just played my role,” Williams said. “That is my job to score. I need to fill the lanes (on fast breaks). We work on that (in practice), so when it comes game time it is easy for me.”

Williams’s big quarter began when he hit an early 3-pointer.

“It kind of loosened me up,” Williams said. “You know how you get that rhythm? After that, I just took off from there, and it started to come pretty easy.”

Williams’ big quarter all but wrapped up the victory for the Braves, but they let their lead slip away late.

It was the same way they finished the first half. The Braves led by eight late in the first half before Ward’s Chris Huey scored five straight points. Pichardo knocked down three free throws, however, and BSHS took a 29-23 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Huey scored a game high 19 points but was kept somewhat in check by Jourdaine Smallwood during the first three quarters.

The Braves expanded their lead to 43-33 entering the fourth quarter. Williams added to it before Ward rallied late.

In the fourth quarter, forward Wole Imokhome was tasked with suppressing Huey. Imokhome held him scoreless for seven minutes and allowed BSHS to run out to a 19-point lead at one point.

“Wole played really well,” Hull said. “He keeps getting better each and every game and I think that will pay dividends in the end. He did a little bit of everything, which is really good to see. That shows his development. He is a sponge — just soaking it all in. He is doing a phenomenal job.”

After halftime, Austin Laing hit two big 3-point baskets to help the Braves out to a comfortable 10-point lead. He finished with 11 points.

Pichardo had 12 points and guard B.J. Watson added nine.

“We need to continue to play hard,” Williams said. “Don’t give up until the final buzzer. Coach always tells us to close games, so when we don’t do that it kind of bugs him a lot. We need to work harder on that.”

The Braves next play Tonganoxie at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the YMCA.

LEAGUE UPDATE

Basehor-Linwood beat Tonganoxie on Tuesday and stayed unbeaten in Kaw Valley League play at 6-0. Mill Valley is second at 5-1, followed by Santa Fe Trail at 4-1. BSHS improved to seventh place by beating Ward.

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