Bison boys defeat Covert

BY STAN MADDUX

It was the boys’ basketball team from New Buffalo High School this time delivering a blowout victory.

The Bison (2-12) defeated Covert 67-35 at home Tuesday, Feb. 7.

The still winless Bulldogs trailed by just six points at halftime.

Head Coach Nate Tripp said his still learning young players seemed to respond positively to simplifying the game plan to reduce confusion on where they should be on both sides of the court.

“They don’t have to think as much. They don’t have to process as much and it helped,” he said.

Junior Andres Becerra was a major contributor early for the Bison when he picked up a loose ball for a bucket then scored three mores time from various spots on the floor in the first quarter.

Junior Elliot Bourne and freshman Sam Tripp shined in the second quarter with two buckets apiece before senior Landon Haskins switched hands while off the floor to lay the ball in from underneath the rim.

The Bison started putting the game away shortly after halftime.

The attack on offense became even more balanced while the defense turning up the pressure forced more turnovers leading to buckets.

Bourne drove in for lay-ups after twice stealing the ball and scored again on a pass following a steal by freshman James Shaw.

The third period ended with the Bison holding a 22 point lead after Tripp nailed another three point shot.

Freshman Nick Haskins was behind much of the dominant play in the fourth quarter.

In sparkling fashion, Haskins drove around defenders along the baseline twice for buckets.

He later nailed a short jump shot and scored down low from a nifty pass by Shaw.

Bourne led all Bison scorers with 14 points followed by 13 points from Nick Haskins and 11 points by Tripp.

Becerra and Landon

Haskins contributed 9 and 7 points respectively.

The only other win for the Bison also came against Covert in what was a much closer game.

In their previous match on February 3, the Bison lost at Michigan Lutheran 5328.

Despite their record, Tripp said his team in a complete rebuilding year after making it to the regional championship game last season has competed better than it seems against squads mostly with bigger and more experienced players.

Tripp said the problem has been five to seven minute stretches in games when his players seem to lose focus, which has led to flurries of turnovers and buckets by the opposition.

“How do we fix those mistakes is what we’re still battling with. There’s still a lot of season left. I still believe in my guys,” he said.