Wrapping up a sweep in the Silverdale Thanksgiving Classic by defeating the hosts, Bradley Central continued its strong early-season start.
For the second time in less than a week the Bears had a similar outcome to last week's 50-30 win by downing the host Seahawks 51-27 this time around.
“We were really locked in tonight on defense which has been our mainstay all season and should continue to be,” noted "‘Papa Bear"’ Zach Carpenter after the game.
“We need to be smoother with the ball,” he added after his Bears commit 16 turnovers.
“Our goal is 10 or less per game and we had that many at halftime.”
Improving to 4-0 on the young campaign, Bradley will take a few days off to enjoy the long holiday weekend before traveling to Knox Catholic (3-0) on Tuesday and venturing across town next Friday for the first intra-county rivalry game at Cleveland (3-0).
Silverdale will head across the border to face Heritage Tuesday, plus host Notre Dame Friday, Dec. 6.
Bradley's smothering defense kept the hosts under control Wednesday, forcing 28 turnovers, including 16 Bear steals.
Senior Caiden Bauldwin led the way by making eight swipes to go along with his team-leading 15 points and three assists thrown in for good measure.
Bauldwin opened the scoring with a breakaway "slam dunk"’ to get the Bears rolling and SBA called time after falling behind 10-2 midway through the first quarter.
The period ended with the Bears up by 10-4 before they exploded for a 12-point run that was punctuated by another Bauldwin "slam" to make it 22-4 and the Seahawks needed another timeout to try to stop the bleeding.
Bauldwin sank 7-of-11 shots from the field, most of which were in the paint with the Bears as a team shooting 15-for-32 (46.9%) from inside the arc, but just 4-of-18 (22.2) beyond it on the night.
Silverdale gamely fought back with Banks Hoewischer nailing three straight from long distance to cut into the Bear lead and end the half with a more respectable 25-14 deficit.
The teams traded baskets to open the second half before Bauldwin made back-to-back baskets forcing the Seahawks into another timeout situation.
Following the stoppage in play, the second half of the third period would see the Bears put the game out of reach after they went on a 13-1 roll the remainder of the period and into the fourth making it 44-21.
It was just a matter of time as they closed out the game with a 24-point margin, holding Silverdale to just 34 shots from the field, going 8-for-18 (44%) from close range, plus 3-of-16 (18.8%) from distance.
Free throw shooting improved dramatically for the Bears from just 1-of-8 the previous game to 9-for-17 (52.9%) against the Seahawks, who only went to the stripe three times, making two.
Senior Ramerion Taylor was the only other Bear scorer in double figures with 14 points, while hitting 5-of-9 from the field, including three from distance.
Classmate Tyrese Stovall tossed in seven points, including 3-for-4 at the charity line. The 2024 All-Stater also cleared five rebounds, while snatching three steals.
Another plus for the victors was junior Andrew Walker coming off the bench to lead the rebounding war for the Bears with six caroms to go along with four points, an assist and a blocked shot.
Bradley edged out the Seahawks by a 24-22 count on the boards, with seven off the offensive glass, which helped account for their 28 points in the paint.
Hoewischer was the only Seahawks with more than four points, netting 11 with a trio of treys.
Game Summary
|
BRADLEY CENTRAL
|
10
|
15
|
13
|
13
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--51
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|
SILVERDALE
|
4
|
10
|
7
|
6
|
--27
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BRADLEY CENTRAL (57) — Caiden Bauldwin 15, Ramireon Taylor 14, Stovall 7, Walker 4, A. Butts 3, Ary 3, K. Butts 2, Fields 2, Cannon 1, White, Baggett.
SILVERDALE (27) — Banks Hoewischer 11, Burger 4, Hullender 4, McGhee 3, C. Jenne 2, Holland 2, H. Jenne 1, Keith, Br. Hoewischer, Bayne, Garrett, Askew, Bowman, Ainkle, Bowers.
3-point goals: Bradley Central 4 (Taylor 3, Ary): Silverdale 3 (Banks Hoewischer).
Free throws: Bradley Central 9-of-17: Silverdale 2-of-3.
Records: Bradley Central 4-0: Silverdale 1-4.