Daniel Richardson lead the way in a pair of Central Division wins for the JV Bears defeating Salmon River in Fort Covington last Thursday 63-21 and Ogdensburg Free Academy at home on Monday 43-27.The young Bears have improved to an 8-5 record and are currently riding a four game in streak with Norwood-Norfolk coming to town this Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Photos by Jay Berkman
At Salmon River High School, Canton 63, Salmon 21
It was a total team effort last Thursday as the Bears saw 13 of their 18 man roster contribute scoring on the evening. The Bears broke open a strong first quarter as they ran away with a 25-4 lead.Dan Richardson scored 10 in the opening stanza while Ciaran O’Brien netted seven and Dan O’Neill contributed four. Quarter two saw a similar trend, however from different guys. Logan Stiles and Landon Perry knocked down triples in the quarter while Parker Ames bullied his way to the hoop scoring six points.In the end the defensive pressure was too much for the Shamrocks as the Bears traveled back to Canton with the win and quality minutes from everyone on the team.
In Canton on Monday evening, Canton 43, OFA 27
Monday’s game featured two of the top JV teams in Section X as the 8-3 Blue Devils came to town. Ogdensburg was enjoying a six-game winning streak and had defeated every Section X opponent this season except for Malone. The young Devils team was missing a few key players as the varsity team had called up several talented sophomores and freshman but the Bears knew they would still be in for a battle as they faced two of the most veteran coaches in the Section with brothers Mike and Scott Sargent at the helm.
The game progressed as expected with both teams working very hard on the defensive end of the floor, thereby causing many turnovers in the opening frame. The Bears enjoyed a short lived 13-5 opening quarter as 6 different players were able to score including David Cheng, Will Andes, Dan Richardson, Ciaran O’Brien, Owen Matthews and Hayden Towle. OFA switched to a 1-3-1 press which the Bears struggled to figure out and turned the ball over enough to see the second quarter tied at 10 points a piece. The halftime score was 23-15.
The second half continued with more of the same. A back and forth battle with each team struggling to find the scoring column. James Trombley came into the game a the mid-way point of the quarter and things began to happen for the Bears.
“James played tonight with something prove and he proved it,” Coach Bill Porter commented. “His energy was contagious and his ball pressure was fantastic. I really think he gave us the lift we were in need of!”
As the Bears entered the fourth quarter, their intensity continued, holding the Devils to two points in the final quarter. Dan Richardson came alive from deep connecting on a couple of triples and the Bears managed the pressure by the Devils a little better, securing the win. Leading the way was Richardson with 15, Ciaran O’Brien with six, Will Andes with five, Hayden Towle four, Owen Matthews, James Trombley and Dan O’Neill with three and David Cheng and Parker Ames netting two.
The Bears are at home this Thursday at 5:30 when they face Norwood-Norfolk.
