Tuesday, Jan. 15 2013 1:59PM
Game-changer
Strong second quarter leads to solid win for LSN
By Stephanie Yeagle
syeagle@lsjournal.com
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ReprintKeeping Columbia Rock Bridge to only four points in the second quarter was the turning point for Lee’s Summit North in their 54-48 victory in the first round of the Culver’s Classic Jan. 14 at Lee’s Summit.
The Bruins started with a 12-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and after a basket early in the second quarter, led 14-10. But then the Broncos went on a 16-0 run, with three shots by junior guard Jalen Ford, a three-pointer and three free throws from senior guard Richard Chapman and two baskets from senior guard Devin Woods to put Lee’s Summit North up 26-14. Rock Bridge put in two free throws before halftime, but Lee’s Summit North still led 26-16.
“The first half, we came out to a slow start,” Lee’s Summit North senior forward Tyler Anderson said. “They had a lead. But in the second quarter, we really started to pick it up. That was really the game changer, was the second quarter. At the end of the game, we just had to keep the lead.”
In the start of the third quarter, after the Bruins put in a three-pointer and a basket, Chapman sunk a three-point shot and Anderson hit a basket a free throw to make the score 32-21. Rock Bridge outscored Lee’s Summit North 20-16 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 42-36 going into the last eight minutes of play.
The Bruins started out the fourth quarter with a basket and a free throw to close the gap to 42-39. The Broncos responded with a basket and free throw from Anderson and a shot from Ford to push ahead again. After a three-pointer from Rock Bridge, the Broncos got some free throws from senior guard Ryan Sorrell and Anderson to lead 50-42.
Rock Bridge responded with their own free throws and a shot to make the score 50-46 with a minute left in the game. Anderson was fouled, hitting one free throw and junior guard Caleb Berry sunk a basket to keep the Broncos ahead at 53-46. After two Bruins’ free throws, Sorrell sealed the victory with a shot at the charity stripe.
“We played really well,” Anderson said. “Columbia Rock Bridge is a really good team. We came out and did what we needed to do to win the game.”
Anderson led the Broncos with 17 total points, followed by Chapman with 11 points. Ford had eight points and Sorrell and Woods added six each. Rob Durbin had four points and Berry had two.
Lee’s Summit North, 9-3, head to the semifinal game against cross-town rival Lee’s Summit West after slipping past the Titans last week 49-45.
“You can’t really predict a rivalry game like that,” Anderson said. “It’s what you live for. That’s why you play basketball to play these games. We will just have to do what we do. They are really athletic and big. We just have to come out and play our game and we will win.”
The game tips off at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
