BHS BASKETBALL: Lady Bruins display progress; Bruins battle in loss
Bartlesville High School’s Adrianne Flick (20) goes up for a rebound against Edmond North in Bartlesville on January 21, 2025. The Lady Bruins fell, 61-42.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Bartlesville High School’s Hudson Eads (4) drives the ball during action against Edmond North in Bartlesville on January. 21, 2025. The Bruins fell, 63-28.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Jan. 24, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
There are basically two kinds of victories — wins and progress.
The Bartlesville High School girls basketball team produced a shining example of the latter during a strong outing Tuesday at the Bruin Fieldhouse in District 6A-4 action.
Back on December 3, the Edmond North girls surged past Bartlesville with destructive intent.
But in Tuesday’s rematch, the Bartlesville Lady Bruins proved they’ve grown up a lot in 49 days.
Edmond North (9-4, 7-1) drove away from Bartlesville with a 61-42 win — but the game itself was actually not too lopsided.
Bartlesville (8-5, 4-4) had led by seven at halftime, 31-24, and trailed only by seven points at the end of the third quarter, 40-33.
Edmond North shifted into a new gear in the fourth period to pull away. But Bartlesville had proved it wasn’t the same team as it had been seven weeks earlier.
In Tuesday’s boys game, Bartlesville’s offense sputtered, allowing Edmond North (11-3, 6-2) to race to a 63-26 win.
During this weekend the Lady Bruins will battle at a tournament in Frontenac, Kan., while the Bruins will be gaining experience at tourney in Moore.
Bartlesville Radio will be broadcasting some of the games.
Following are more details for both home games Tuesday.
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Bartlesville High School’s Jaden Turner (2) drives the ball during action against Edmond North in Bartlesville on January 21, 2025. The Bruins fell, 63-28.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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BOYS: Edmond North 63, Bartlesville 28
Jordan Turner notched eight points and Dennis Duncan and Trey Collins hit some key baskets for Bartlesville (2-11, 0-8)
The Bruins — who are coached by Tommy DeSalme — stayed within striking distance through a good part of the first half.
Collins netted a three-pointer to pull the Bruins within seven points, 14-7, and Duncan later trimmed the gap back to seven, 20-13, with a deuce.
Going into half Edmond North led by 12 points, 25-13.
But as has happened in other games this season, Bartlesville came out with a cold shooting touch in the third quarter and the opponent pulled away.
In this case, Edmond North opened the quarter with a 22-2 run.
Turner scored all of his points in the second half and freshman Michael Kent also dropped in a bucket.
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Bartlesville High School’s Alayah Lunn (4) guards an Edmond North player in Bartlesville on January 21, 2025. The Lady Bruins fell, 61-42.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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GIRLS: Edmond North 61, Bartlesville 42
Bartlesville elevated its game to titanic height for most the first three quarters but hit an iceberg of adversity in the fourth quarter and saw its victory hopes disappear beneath the waves of momentum.
But with just a bit more lift in the third quarter could have propelled Bartlesville to a happy landing.
All things considered, this had to be considered a “thumbs up” performance by Bartlesville.
Sami Sheaffer poured in 11 points for the game and Kenzie Denny and Kennedy Nubel energized the Lady Bruins in the first half to set a positive tone for Bartlesville.
Trailing 13-12 at the end of the first quarter the Lady Bruins erupted for 18 points in the second quarter.
A succession of two quick layups by Nubel boosted the Lady Bruins — who are coached by Justyn Shaw — into the lead, 18-17.
A minute or two later Denny buried a three-pointer to and Sheaffer sank two free throws to put Bartlesville up, 26-22.
A subsequent trey by Alayah Lunn and another Denny deuce powered Bartlesville to the seven-point halftime advantage, 31-24.
But the lead quickly evaporated in the early minutes of the third quarter. Edmond North won the quarter, 16-2, to flip-flop the lead, 40-33.
Bartlesville’s cold shooting hand endured through the fourth quarter while Edmond North continued to pour in points.
Unlike the first meeting, Bartlesville stayed within three possessions going into the fourth period.
The Lady Bruins aren’t quite there yet — but they are getting closer.