HARRIS---Bark River-Harris High School girls basketball coach Paul Anderson prides his team on playing strong fundamental basketball, with an emphasis on defense.
Considering how many points the Broncos have scored this season, many who don't watch the team would think that offense is the centerpiece of the team's success.
Well, the truth is actually both.
The Broncos score a lot of points because the girls never stop pushing the ball up-court.
But a lot of those baskets are set up by an aggressive full-court press defense and constant double-teaming of the opponents' ball-handler.
And that was all on display Monday night as the Broncos overwhelmed a good Stephenson Eagles team, 84-57, in Harris.
The defensive pressure frustrated the Eagles throughout most of the game, leading to an unusally high number of turnovers (18 in the first half alone). And the Broncos cashed in on many of them, especially during an 18-4 run to start the third quarter.
Stephenson (10-7) tried to match the BR-H intensity, and managed to stay close on the scoreboard throughout the first half. The Broncos led, 20-15, after the first quarter, and it was a 40-31 game at halftime.
But the Eagles could not keep up that break-neck pace.
The run to start the third quarter included a sequense in which the Broncos scored six straight points in a span of 13 seconds...with two straight steals leading to hoops.
Bark River-Harris (14-2) got contributions from the entire roster. Hannah Starnes led the way with 19 points, and Katie Schultz added 18 points. Alissa Willa scored 15 points, and Caitlyn Frazer added 11 points. Maddison Linquist chipped in ten points.
For Stephenson, Kelsey Johnson and Tori Wangerin each scored 16 points.
In the junior varsity game, Bark River-Harris topped Stephenson, 70-40, as sophomore Paige Welch scored 39 points to lead the Broncos.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from Monday night's game.
Considering how many points the Broncos have scored this season, many who don't watch the team would think that offense is the centerpiece of the team's success.
The Broncos score a lot of points because the girls never stop pushing the ball up-court.
But a lot of those baskets are set up by an aggressive full-court press defense and constant double-teaming of the opponents' ball-handler.
And that was all on display Monday night as the Broncos overwhelmed a good Stephenson Eagles team, 84-57, in Harris.
The defensive pressure frustrated the Eagles throughout most of the game, leading to an unusally high number of turnovers (18 in the first half alone). And the Broncos cashed in on many of them, especially during an 18-4 run to start the third quarter.
Stephenson's Tori Wangerin battles for a hoop.
But the Eagles could not keep up that break-neck pace.
The run to start the third quarter included a sequense in which the Broncos scored six straight points in a span of 13 seconds...with two straight steals leading to hoops.
Hannah Starnes Steal; Maddison Lindquist hoop.
For Stephenson, Kelsey Johnson and Tori Wangerin each scored 16 points.
In the junior varsity game, Bark River-Harris topped Stephenson, 70-40, as sophomore Paige Welch scored 39 points to lead the Broncos.
Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos from Monday night's game.
