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KABOOM! Norse Break Century Mark In Home Win
 Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos, and to hear post-game comments from Terrell Galbreath and Coach Matt Johsnon. Also click the AUDIO button to hear Ryan Sweeney's player spotlight interview.
 Bay had 14 different players score in the contest as the team improved to 9-1 on the season, with its only loss being a one-point heartbreaker to defending national champion Milwaukee Tech two weeks ago.
On Saturday, the Norse scored almost at will, making 57-percent of its shots from the floor (and 64-percent in the first half).
“Our depth is our biggest strength,” Norse Coach Matt Johnson said. “I know I say that every time, but it's true. We got lazy and complacent at times (on defense) because we scored as easy as we did, but that is what it is. Our guys need to be a little bit better at staying locked in and executing the game plan. Sixty bench points, though. That's pretty darn good. They all did something. It was a good game. It was a good night for our guys.”
All 16 available Norse players saw at least five minutes of floor time, with nobody playing more than 21 of the game's 40 minutes. Bay dominated in every statistical category, outrebounding Western Tech, 52-25, having 17 assists to just seven for the Cavaliers, and making eight triples, and scoring 60 points off the bench (60-19).
Redshirt freshman Terrell Galbreath, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, had a career-best 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting to lead the Norse in scoring.
 “I went through a lot last year,” Galbreath said. “It was real hard. I couldn't extend my knees at all. I just went through rehab with the trainers, doing a lot of lifting. It feels good. I just wanted to play with my teammates. I love playing with my teammates. It means everything. I've always wanted to play basketball. Just get on the court with my friends and play.”
“We knew all last year that Terrell was a really, really nice player,” Johnson said. “He came back this year and there's been ups and downs. Days where he's been really, really good. Other days where he hasn't been great and has been frustrated. It's tough to sit there for a year, and more, and not get on the floor. You're a basketball player. You want to play 40 minutes a night. Terrell is an awesome kid and I love him, and I'm glad he shot the ball as well as he did tonight.”
Joe Ofori set the tone with eight early points and ended up scoring 12, plus he had seven rebounds. Ezra Brown made all four of his shots for eight points, and he grabbed three rebounds, had a steal, and an assist, in his ten minutes of work.
And guard Kairee Gadson scored eleven points in just nine minutes of play as he continues recovering from injuries. All in all, it was another night where everybody who played contributed something.
Bay jumped off to a 25-11 lead after two baskets by Brown off the bench. Western Tech closed to within 38-25 on a Collin Vieth triple with 8:46 left in the first half, and the Norse did not allow a single point the rest of the half, closing on a 24-0 run to make it a 62-25 game at the half.
 One sequence during that run was capped off by a nice dish from Mason Doberstein to Conner Smale for a lay-up. The Escanaba native Smale scored eight points, the most in a Norse uniform after transferring from the now-defunct Finlandia University.
Western Tech (6-5 overall) made five triples and went 13-of-15 from the free throw line. Evan Matthews led the Cavaliers with 13 points, while Vieth and Ashton Pfaff both added nine points.
Bay (9-1 overall) plays its final home game of 2023 Saturday afternoon against fellow UP team Gogebic Community College.
The Samsons (4-6 overall) trailed Kirtland Community College at halftime Friday, but went on a big run in the second half to win, 79-61. Eli Talsma led the Samsons with a career-best 36 points in that victory. Bay College beat Gogebic, 78-52, in Ironwood, on Thanksgiving weekend.
Saturday's game starts at 4:00 ET and will be broadcast live on Maverick 106.3 FM and on-line at www.radioresultsnetwork.com.  |
