Bradley grinds out win with defense
Coach Brett Norris didn't fret when Hilliard Bradley started 1 of 10 from the field in a Division I regional semifinal against Reynoldsburg on Wednesday night. After all, the Jaguars — with their suffocating defense — still led at the time.
"All I look at is if we're getting quality shots," Norris said, "and I know for a fact that ours were better than theirs. We're a defensive-driven team. The offense usually catches up in time."
Norris' son, Braden, made five three-pointers in the first half and Bradley took a substantial lead on the way to a 56-44 victory before a sellout crowd at Ohio Dominican.
Although Reynoldsburg applied a chaser on Norris in the second half, all that did was free up teammates Matt Allocco (14 points) and Isaiah Speelman (13).
"We're 25-1 for a reason," said Braden Norris, who nailed a shot just past halfcourt to end the first quarter. "When we start off slow like we did tonight, we just keep grinding. In the first half, my teammates swung the ball around and got me some great looks. In the second half, I returned the favor. We're a confident team even when shots aren't falling."
Bradley, playing in its first regional tournament, will try for the title and a trip to the state final four when it plays the winner of Thursday's Pickerington Central-Dublin Coffman game on Saturday at ODU.
Norris' spree left Bradley with a 14-point lead and, even with some successful trapping in the fourth quarter, Reynoldsburg (19-8) was never able to get within eight.
"The thing is, I thought we played really well defensively," Raiders coach Scott Davis said. "Then Norris got loose. Credit to him. That one from halfcourt was kind of a backbreaker. When you get behind a team like that, you're not in a good spot. They just spread the floor and take layups or make you foul."
Along the way to setting the program record for wins, Bradley showed some flaws when Reynoldsburg applied fullcourt pressure. But when Bradley's defense — which allows just 36.5 points per game — is locked in, the Jaguars are always in the game.
"Defense and rebounding are our calling cards," Brett Norris said. "We tried to take the comfort plays from (Treauhn) Williams, and I'm really happy with the work we did on him. We also tried to run (Jamiel) Goliday off the threepoint line, and I don't think he made many (none, actually). I think our length was a real asset tonight in limiting them to good shots."
Allocco, Jack Pugh and Chris Mayfield all blocked shots for Bradley.
Elijah Thurston scored 16 points and Ben Fort 13 to pace Reynoldsburg. Williams, who came in averaging 18 points, was limited to eight.