BLINN MEN’S BASKETBALL GETS ROAD WIN OVER BOSSIER PARISH

Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information

The Blinn College men’s basketball team used a late run to erase a five-point deficit and earn an 87-79 Region 14 road win over Bossier Parish Community College on Saturday in Bossier City, La.

“Bossier was lighting it up offensively in the first half and took a lead, and they were still ahead in the final minutes of the game, but we hung in there,” Blinn head coach Scott Schumacher said. “One of the best things I can say about our team is that the guys never stop playing. That was the case once again tonight.”

The Buccaneers (19-10 overall, 13-8 Region 14) trailed 79-74 with 3:50 remaining, but caught fire from there.

With the Cavaliers in the bonus, Blinn freshman guard Connor Sprattley drew a foul during the Bucs’ subsequent possession and kickstarted a 13-0, game-ending run with a single free throw.

After Blinn got a defensive rebound on the other end, sophomore guard Dashawn Ceaser scored on a layup. Moments later, freshman forward Rollings Kamanda scored a massive block of a Bossier Parish shot and sent the ball into the hands of Sprattley. A quick pass to a sprinting Ceaser resulted in a game-tying bucket with 1:48 to go.

Following another defensive rebound for the Bucs, they took the lead for good when Sprattley two-stepped through a pair of Cavalier defenders in the paint and sank a floater for an 81-79 lead.

Bossier Parish’s subsequent possession resulted in a turnover, and Blinn turned the giveaway into a pull-up jumper from freshman guard Desmeon Jones.

A putback for Sprattley and two free throws from Ceaser closed out the scoring.

“Our guys never flinched,” Schumacher added. “We just kept chipping away, and when opportunity knocked, we answered the door.”

Ceaser led Blinn with 26 points. Blinn finished an impressive 22 of 27 from the free throw line, and Ceaser bolstered that performance with a 9-for-9  effort.

Sprattley finished with 23 points and Jokes had 16 with eight assists.

Up next, Blinn will conclude the regular season with a region rematch against No. 5 Trinity Valley Community College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, at the Kruse Center in Brenham, Texas. The Bucs are aiming for a two-game sweep of the Cardinals after defeating them 64-57 on Jan. 10 in Athens, Texas.