Tyler Sharpe scored 20 points to lead the Bullitt East High School boys basketball team to a 72-55 win over host North Bullitt in a Class Act Federal Credit Union Sixth Region quarterfinal Tuesday night.
The Chargers improved to 26-5 and will play DeSales at 6 p.m. Thursday in a regional semifinal at Valley. The Eagles’ season ended at 23-7.
For the Chargers, who had beaten the Eagles 80-71 at home on Feb. 12, it was important to jump out to an early lead in their archrival’s gym. Bailey Rakes opened the game with a 3-pointer and Sharpe hit one of his own, then scored in the lane for a quick 12-2 lead.
“We didn’t get to carry over those points from the first game. It was 0-0 and not 9-0,” Bullitt East coach Bob Blackburn said. “I think it helped us that the first game was a relatively close game. North definitely had our kids’ attention. They’re a very good basketball team. They’re very well coached, and I love their kids. They play hard all night long. We knew we were in for a good game.”
North Bullitt never totally recovered from that early punch. Ryan Henson hit back-to-back 3-pointers that cut the lead to 16-10, and Brendan Holt scored from the wing to cut it to 19-14 at the end of the first period, but that was as close as the Eagles would get.
Jared Farris scored six of 16 points in the first quarter to pace the Chargers. His inside presence allowed the Bullitt East shooters to have open looks. They cashed in with eight made 3-pointers.
“Jared’s an All-Region player when he comes to play,” Blackburn said. “These are high school kids and you never know what’s on their minds sometimes. But it’s tournament time, and if you don’t have basketball on your mind you’re not a basketball player. He came to play tonight, and we’ll get that from him the rest of the year I’m sure.”
Brandon Klefot hit his second 3-pointer of the game early in the second period to put the Chargers up 24-14, and then the visitors scored six straight points to go up 34-19 just before halftime. North Bullitt got a three-point play the old fashioned way from Trent Napier to make it a 12-point game at halftime.
The Eagles used that momentum to score the first six points of the second half, the last three coming on a trey by Travis Dunnavan. Suddenly it was 34-28, and Blackburn had to call a timeout. Whatever he said worked as the Chargers got a three-point play by Rakes and a 3-pointer by Sharpe and the lead was 12 again.
Three more 3-pointers midway through the third period – two by Sharpe and one by Garret Wilson – made it 53-34, and the Chargers played efficiently in the fourth quarter to keep the Eagles at bay and advance into the next round.
Farris dunked the ball with 1:32 left to give Bullitt East a 20-point lead before three free throws by Dunnavan accounted for the final score.
“We shot the ball well,” Blackburn said. “We executed at a high rate. We rebounded and played defense. I have no major complaints. When I watch the film I’m sure I’ll see plenty, but not to the naked eye.”
|
Bullitt East |
19 |
15 |
21 |
17 |
— |
72 |
|
North Bullitt |
14 |
8 |
17 |
16 |
— |
55 |
Bullitt East (26-5): Tyler Sharpe 20, Jared Farris 16, Bailey Rakes 14, Brandon Klefot 10, Garret Wilson 8, Konner Polson 2, Conner Green 2.
North Bullitt (23-7): Ryan Henson 15, Travis Dunnavan 12, Trent Napier 8, Brendan Holt 7, Jared Free 5, Zach June 4, Corey Girton 4.
3-point goals: Sharpe 4, Klefot 2, Wilson 2, Henson 3, Dunnavan 1.