BLINN SWEEPS HOOPS TWINBILL
Blinn Women coast to victory over Weatherford, 76-50
Buccaneer Men look sharp in beating Weatherford, 105-84
BRENHAM, Texas – Blinn College women’s basketball did enough in the first three quarters to coast to a 76-50 victory over Weatherford College Tuesday evening inside Blinn’s P.E. Building.
The Buccaneers outscored Weatherford 25-12 in the first quarter and never looked back to improve to 5-1 on the year, winning four of five games during the first home stand of the season.
“We have some pretty good shooters this year that can open up the zone,” said Blinn head coach Jeff Jenkins. “I thought we did a good job with offensive rebounding in the zone and I always have said that is the key to attacking the zone.”
Rosemary Ilang didn’t lead Blinn in scoring with seven points but she did haul in 11 rebounds, which was key to combat against the size of Weatherford in the paint.
“Really rebounding is my main focus right now,” Ilang said after the game. “For me it was good to go up against a team that is really big and athletic down low.”
Ebony Parker did lead the Buccaneers with 23 points, including seven 3-pointers. Jeliah Preston chipped in nine points and Ashley Ford finished with eight points.
Parker did a lot of damage in the first quarter by hitting five 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes as Blinn grabbed a 25-15 lead that it would not relinquish. The Buccaneers showed a bit more balance in the second quarter with six different players scoring in the quarter.
Blinn started the second on a 13-2 run to take a 38-17 lead after a free throw from Abigail Whyte. Weatherford fought back a little but Blinn still led 42-27 at the break.
Blinn continued its trend of dominating the opening minutes of quarters as the Buccaneers scored the first 16 points of the third quarter to take a 58-27 lead after a basket in the post by Penina Faumui. From there it was all Blinn as the Buccaneers coasted for a 26-point victory.
Blinn will jump right into Region XIV play with a road trip to Bossier Parish Community College on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m.
BRENHAM, Texas – In easily its toughest test of the preseason, Blinn College men’s basketball was able to grab a lead early on and never let go in beating Weatherford College 105-84 Tuesday night inside Blinn’s P.E. Building.
The Buccaneers grabbed a lead in the middle of the first half and wouldn’t let Weatherford creep any closer to improve the season record to 7-0.
“Weatherford is usually tough to play against because they have big guys that can shoot but I thought we played really well tonight,” said Blinn coach Scott Schumacher. “We were able to get a double-digit lead and I don’t think it got back down to single digits the rest of the game.”
The 7-foot-1 big man in the middle, Link Kabadyundi, was a force down low finishing with 13 points for Blinn while cleaning up a boards and blocking a handful of Weatherford shots.
“Coach has been telling me to use all of my size and be a menace defensively,” Kabadyundi said after the game. “My guards are doing a pretty good job of finding me down low on offense.”
The regular scoring tandem of Corey Henderson and Morris Dunnigan led the Buccaneers with 25 and 22 points, respectively. After a scoreless first half, John Dewey came alive in the second half with 18 points while running the offense.
Blinn was on early in the first as a basket in the low post by James Harrison gave the Buccaneers a 22-12 lead with 9:48 left in the half. Blinn later scored 11 straight points to grab a 37-17 lead, its biggest lead of the half.
Weatherford fought back into the game slightly before halftime but with Dunnigan and Henderson each scoring 10 points Blinn was able to cling to a 45-33 lead at the break.
Blinn opened the second half on a roll thanks to Dewey looking to score. The Buccaneers opened on a 12-4 run to take a 57-38 lead. Dewey scored early and often in the second half, adding 18 points in the final 20 minutes.
Blinn was able to maintain its lead down the stretch and hold on for the 21-point victory. Henderson scored 15 points and Dunnigan added 12 in the second half.
Blinn will open up Region XIV play with a road game at Bossier Parish Community College on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 4 p.m.
For more information, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
(Story & photos courtesy, Jake Gordon, Blinn Information)