BonnerSprings.com

Following two one-point victories in a row that landed the Bonner Springs Braves in the championship game of the Baldwin Invitational Tournament against the host school, coach Ryan Hull did not know what to expect.

He said his team’s two victories to get to the final could not have been more different in terms of style.

On Tuesday, Jan. 19, the Braves defeated defending champion Kansas City Christian, 62-61, by using a stirring comeback in the final seconds — including a buzzer-beating layup by junior guard Austin Laing. Friday night, the Braves knocked off Augusta, 47-46, after they held a 15-point lead in the second half only to see it completely vanish before securing the victory.

Given those past results, nobody knew how BSHS would fare Saturday against Baldwin, but everybody expected a close game. This time, the Braves avoided any late-game drama by taking control early.

Two free throws, a basket and a blocked shot by senior center Wole Imokhome, followed by 3-pointers by Laing, J.J. Jackson and two by Juan Pichardo, helped bury the Bulldogs en route to a 62-46 victory.

The Braves now have a 4-7 record.

“It’s funny, in tournaments you always have that one game that is close and you really question whether you should have gotten that one,” Hull said. “The second game, (Augusta), we showed our youth (blowing a 15-point second-half lead) and one day later, we really learned from our youthful mistakes — in one day.”

Imokhome asserted himself as a leader and a tone-setter facing Baldwin’s best player, 6-foot-9 junior center Justin Vander Tuig, and not backing down. Imokhome finished with 4 points, three blocks and a steal.

“We really came together as a family this week,” Imokhome said. “We feel we can go all the way now. (The) sky’s the limit.”

After stopping the Bonner Springs opening onslaught, Baldwin tried to make a game out of it by forcing the ball inside and using its height advantage. The Bulldogs got 19 points from Vander Tuig, but it was not enough to stop the hot-shooting Braves.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Baldwin cut the Bonner lead to eight,and there was a sense that the Braves needed a basket to stop the bleeding and secure the victory. Pichardo, who finished the game with 22 points, obliged. He dribbled at the top of the key, got his man on his hip, spun and flipped up a shot that hung on the rim and dropped in as the referee called a foul. He knocked down the ensuing free throw and the Braves led 51-40.

“That was a pivotal play. It totally changed the complexion of the game,” Hull said. “(Juan) put everybody at ease. He set the tone for the rest of the game.”

On the Bulldogs’ next possession, the BSHS defense got a steal and passed the ball ahead to speedy Stevie Williams, who covered about 15 feet in two steps and laid the ball in over a defender. The fast-break basket was Williams’ second of the half. After forcing another stop, Laing nailed another 3-pointer and sealed the championship for the Braves.

“I like to make the big shot,” Laing said. “I like to get us going when we are a little down … get our momentum back up. We are playing more together and that will (translate into) more wins.”

After the game, the Braves received individual medals and a team trophy, and Imokhome, Laing and Pichardo were named to the All-Tournament Team.

“We are getting better,” said Pichardo, who battled illness all weekend. “We are coming together as a team and are playing with confidence.”

Hull noted the Braves had not won a trophy in his tenure and that this one would be proudly displayed in BSHS’ trophy case on Monday.

“I am very proud of my guys,” Hull said. “I’ve never held one of those (trophies). I held a third-place trophy when I was an assistant at Schlagle, but a first place is nice. Hopefully it pumps up the kids.”

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