Sports Roundup -- Spartan boys fall to Prep on road

In a battle of ranked teams, the Bainbridge boys basketball team couldn’t overcome the stifling defense of fifth-ranked Seattle Prep, losing 63-39.

Head coach Scott Orness gave credit to the Panthers and their star, Spencer Hawes, for coming out fired-up for the game.

“Prep played great team defense,” he said. “Hawes is much improved as a player and a team player.”

Orness felt his team, most notably Cody Gibler, kept him in check in the second half, allowing him just six points on 3 of 9 shooting. Bainbridge also kept the game close and trailed by four at one point.

But Prep busted out in the fourth quarter, outscoring Bainbridge 25-9.

The offense couldn’t get on track, shooting just 21 percent for the game.

“We didn’t execute our sets,” Orness said. “We just had poor shot selection ,and we were in too much of a hurry to get a shot off, while Prep was getting a lot of easy baskets. Usually the team that shoots the most easy baskets wins.”

Prep’s defense was stifling against Bainbridge’s top scorer Steven Gray, as he shot 6-26 from the floor but finished with a double-double as he scored 17 and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Gibler registered a double-double as well, with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

As a team, the Spartans turned the ball over 10 times.

The Spartans missed Theo Miller, who is out for two to three weeks after knee surgery, and Austin Wood, who is still hampered by an ankle sprain.

But Orness won’t make excuses or play the “what-if” game.

“This game showed us a lot of things we need to get better at,” he said.

Bainbridge played Eastside Catholic yesterday.

They host Lakeside tomorrow at Paski Gym.

Tip-off is at 6:15 p.m.

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