Steers lock horns with Bulls, earn win

Facing a team twice in one season can bring both advantages and disadvantages. For the Graham Steers, getting to see the Bridgeport Bulls again worked in the Steers’ favor as they earned a 52-31 win.

In Graham’s final game before a break for the holidays, the Steers traveled Wednesday, Dec. 20 to Bridgeport for a clash with the Bulls, after playing them once before during the Red, White & Blue tournament in the beginning of the month.

The location didn’t matter, however, as the Steers won 61-41 in Graham and then won 52-31 on the Bulls’ home court. Graham played a balanced game and received contributions from everyone who played.

The Steers were led in scoring once again by senior Keion Shead, but many players scored multiple baskets, including some of the reserve players. In addition to scoring, six players recorded at least one assist in the game and 10 players hauled in at least one rebound.

Shead got the game underway with two points at the rim followed on the next possession by a 3-pointer from Samuel Rodgers. Ty Thompson hit a 2-pointer and, shortly after, made 1-of-2 free throws. Shead finished the first quarter with five more points and Graham led 13-5 at the end of one quarter.

Graham slowed down a bit in the second quarter as the team dealt with some turnovers and missed shots. The Steers continued to play strong defense, though, and rebounded at a high level.

Thompson scored at the rim again for two points and after that recorded an assist on a pass to Tyson Weaver for a corner 3-pointer. In the final minute before halftime, Bryce Martin drove the ball into the lane and found center Cash Bowen open for two points at the rim, and the Steers led 20-12 at the half.

Coming out of halftime the senior Shead led the way again with five straight points. His first two came on a shot at the basket off an assist from Riley Lanham. Next possession, Weaver earned the assist when Shead drained a 3-pointer from the wing to put the team up 25-14.

The Steers showed more aggression on offense in this quarter as players grew in confidence with the ball in their hands. More players began driving and either taking a shot or drawing defenders in and finding an open teammate for a look.

Graham recorded an assist on every made basket in the third quarter except for one, when Shead pulled down an offensive rebound and immediately went back up with the ball for two points and a foul.

Lanham, Weaver, Thompson and Martin all recorded assists in the frame and the Steers went into the fourth quarter leading 38-23.

With such a strong lead, Graham turned to more of the bench players so they could see some action and they produced just as well as the starters. Jack Caddell scored his first points of the game on a corner 3-pointer thanks to an assist from Tyler Allen.

The lead was never in doubt and the Steers ran away with the 21-point win to put together back-to-back wins going into the break. After Shead’s 16 points, Kolby Spurlin finished with 8 points followed by Caddell, Thompson and Rodgers with 5 points each.

The Steers will gear up for the second half of the season and they’ll open play at the Fredericksburg tourney beginning Dec. 28. District play will begin a couple of weeks after that with the team’s first game Friday, Jan. 12 against Brownwood.