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Balanced scoring lifts Broncos

HARRIS — Coach Jim VanEnkevort wasn’t sure what to expect from the Bark River-Harris boys’ basketball team after an 11-day layoff.

He certainly liked what he saw from the Broncos Tuesday night, however, as they rolled to a 73-35 triumph over the North Dickinson Nordics.

“I had a feeling one night we were going to explode, and I guess tonight was the night,” he said. “We had real balanced scoring and it seemed like someone was always stepping up. We work at it every day, but I’m sure everybody else does the same. This was a confidence boost for our guys.”

The Broncos sank 10 three-point shots, including eight in the first half of the Skyline Central Conference outing. They finished 30-of-56 from the field.

North Dickinson scored first on a 22-foot jump shot by senior guard Hunter Mattson.

BR-H responded with 12 unanswered points, taking a 12-3 lead on a left-corner jumper by senior center Jace Briggs with two minutes, 53 seconds left in the opening frame.

Mattson brought the Nordics within 17-16 on a 21-foot jumper from the left wing 20 seconds into the second quarter and 20-18 following a 10-foot jumper by junior forward Jared Miller 53 seconds later.

The Nordics had a chance to tie the score, but a steal and layup by BR-H junior guard Ben Schultz put the Broncos up 22-18.

BR-H then scored the next 15 points, a run climaxed by an eight-foot jumper by senior Nick Lippens for a 37-18 cushion with 2:40 remaining in the second.

“They had six different kids hit 3-point shots in the first half,” said Nordics’ coach Chris Mattson. “When they put kids in a corner like that, they’re very difficult to defend. They played very unselfish. I don’t think we played real aggressive. We looked very tentative on offense. We got run off the court, especially in the second quarter.

“We’ve been struggling offensively. They just locked in on us and we didn’t get many second chances. They controlled the tempo.”

The Broncos led 43-22 at halftime after outscoring the Nordics 26-9 in the second stanza.

“The first time we played them, it was a tight first half (in a 65-47 triumph at Felch Feb. 3),” said VanEnkevort. “It was a game to the end. Their guards are strong. I thought our help defense was pretty good and we attacked the basket real well tonight.”

Junior forward Ryan Arndt led the Broncos (14-4 overall, 9-2 league) with 15 points. Schultz added 13. Briggs scored 11 and Lippens had 10.

Hunter Mattson paced the Nordics (5-13 overall, 3-9 league) with 14 points. Senior teammate Riley Johnson drained a half-court 3-point shot from in front of the scorer’s table at the final buzzer.

“We made the first shot and last shot,” said coach Mattson. “In between, everything didn’t look good for the Nordics tonight. They (BR-H) were quicker to everything. We haven’t been consistent this year. We’ve played well at times, not so well at other times.”

The Nordics had 12 turnovers and BR-H had nine.

BR-H, which dropped the jayvee game 66-43, hosts Superior Central Thursday. The Nordics visit Kingsford Thursday.

N Dickinson 13 9 5 8 — 35

BR-Harris 17 26 15 15 — 73

North Dickinson — Wagner 7, Mattson 14, O’Neil 2, Johnson 3, Roell 6, Miller 3. FT: 1-8; F: 6; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Mattson 4, Wagner, Johnson

Bark River-Harris — Mustafa 4, LeBoeuf 2, Lippens 10, Arndt 15, Richer 6, Cronick 2, Schultz 13, Briggs 11, Farnsworth 2, Heim 8. FT: 3-5; F: 7; Fouled out: None.

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