Broncos welcomed back to the hardwood with win

Being short on practice time didn’t hinder the LRS Broncos as they opened their basketball season with a 42-35 road win over Columbia-Burbank.

The team, behind most teams in terms of practice time, proved its players’ talents are solid enough to be competitive right out of the blocks.

Head coach Dustan Arlt said the team had four full practice sessions before the game. Many of the basketball team’s players just finished postseason football action on Saturday. They immediately shifted gears into basketball mode.

“Our defense was really good other than the third quarter,” Arlt said. “Offensively we were a little rusty. We had trouble putting it all together at game speed. We had the right ideas. Our legs are still a little heavy. They are just finding their touch around the hoop.”

The defense held Columbia-Burbank to 11 points in the first half. The third quarter was a different story as CB scored 21 points. The defense found its groove again in the fourth quarter and held Columbia-Burbank to three points.

On offense the Broncos sputtered at times, but the team was able to lean heavily on guard Connor O’Neill who paced the broncos with 18 points. Off the bench Cort Ruzicka, checked in as a post player had a key eight-point night.

Otherwise, Columbia-Burbank’s defense was solid.

“They really pressured the ball,” Arlt said. “Our posts struggled and we didn’t get them the ball much.”

Jacob Saetre provided five points. Dylan Hartz scored four points, all from the free throw line. Ryan Whitmore finished with three points while Bridger Smith and Tyler Frederick each scored two.

In other statistical categories, O’Neill had five rebounds. Hartz grabbed six rebounds and dished out six assists. Ruzicka pulled down seven rebounds and blocked four Columbia-Burbank shot attempts. Frederick had five rebounds.

The Broncos’ second game of the season was Tuesday at Springdale. They will host Reardan on Friday night and then meet defending state champion St. George’s before a much-needed four-day break for Christmas.

“We have to battle through the next week and then get some rest,” Arlt said.