BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — With his full roster available and a more regular schedule now that the snowy weather has subsided, Bridgeport is finding their form midway through the season. The Indians improved to 10-1 Thursday night with an 81-32 win over East Fairmont, giving Dave Marshall’s club their seventh consecutive win.
After playing just six games in the first month of the season, BHS is in the middle of a three-game week that began with a 45-38 win over Buckhannon-Upshur and will conclude Saturday at Lincoln.
“The practices now because of this are not very intense and they are not very long,” Marshall said. “That’s to be expected. To get in the gym and play, especially after that long layoff, has really been nice.”
Bridgeport used a 14-0 run late in the first quarter to take a 25-9 lead after the opening eight minutes. The Indians held a double-digit lead the rest of the way against a young East Fairmont team.
“Coach [Carter] DeVault is doing a great job. That’s a young group and they are going to be a pain in a lot of people’s butt over the next couple years. I felt like we got out of position more than you would have liked. And when we did, they got good looks at the basket. And it seemed like they made those.”
Landon Sanders led all scorers with 21 points.
“He is starting to come into his own. I think early in the season, his legs were really shot because without those football guys, he and Phoenix [Sickles] had to play mega-minutes. And not just play but practice with extra intensity.”
Future WVU football player Carter Zuliani posted a season-best 13 points. He and a handful of other football players are up to speed after making a quick transition from the gridiron last month.
“That’s probably three games in a row where he is starting to get those basketball legs back under him. I would say the same for Jack [Spatafore] and Gavin [Williams]. They are starting to come along with that.
“[Zuliani] makes such a difference. You can’t coach that kind of size. You can make a smaller guy play a little bigger. But that is just a big guy and we are sure happy to have him.”
Anderson McDougal and Phoenix Sickles each scored 14 points as the Indians created several transition opportunities off of defensive steals.
“One of the biggest keys to a running game is your point guard. If you have a point guard that can set the tempo, we call him the driver of the Ferrari. He’s got to put the pedal to the metal. Everyone else can keep up with him because they want the basketball. That’s a key. When Anderson is on and pushing the ball up the floor, and Gavin can come in and spell him a little bit and push the ball up the floor, that’s what we want to be doing. But it starts out of defense.”
River McClain led East Fairmont (4-7) with 12 points.