Beech Tree News Network

BCMS boy’s 7th and 8th grade basketball season kicked off Monday, November 7th with a road trip to Edmonson County.  The 7th grade team wasted no time letting everyone know that they are going to be a force to be reckoned with all year long.  With a strong starting five and a deep bench, the Bears took the lead early and never looked back.  The game ended with a score of 43 – 26.  Leading Bears scoring for the 7th grade was Blake Graham with 16 points.  Rex Henderson came off of the bench for 11 points.  Others scoring were Bailey Anderson 8, Kaleb Casey 2, Kyle Casey 2, Kaleb Hunt 2, Brennan Grubb 2.

The 8th grade team took the floor in dominating fashion as well at Edmonson County with the starting 5 putting 15 points on the scoreboard the first quarter.  The Bears had doubled their score by halftime scoring easily on the Wildcats while holding them to only 3 points the first half.  The second half proved to be all Bears again with the game ending Bears crushing the Wildcats 51 – 17.  Leading scorer was Blake Graham with 14.  Rex Henderson contributed 11 points.  Other Bears to make it on the scoreboard was Rodney Woosley 8, Ian Embry 8, Bailey Anderson 2, Dallas Miller 2, Nolan Johnson 2, Jacob Hixenbaugh 2, Dylan Inglis 2.

On Thursday, the Bears hit the road again, this time to McLean County,  It was the same story for 7th grade, just a different town.  Bailey Anderson, Blake Graham, and Rex Henderson came out with hot hands scoring 32 of the Bears 33 points in the first half.  Bears scoring slowed somewhat in the second half but never allowed the Cougars to be in the game.  7th grade final score was 53 – 30.  Blake Graham led all scoring with 19, followed closely by Bailey Anderson with 17.  Rex Henderson scored 11, Brennan Grubb 2, Skyler Moore 2, Kaleb Casey 1, Kaleb Hunt 1.

The 8th grade team got off to a slow start with some turnovers and several missed shots; however, Rex Henderson would bring it to within 1 with a long 3 pointer at the buzzer with Bears trailing 13 – 14 going into the locker room at halftime.  Coach Calvin Dockery must have found the right words to say because the Bears came out the second half and got the job done.   Excellent defense led to several Cougar turnovers and Bear fastbreaks by Blake Graham.  Bears took the lead quickly in the second half and didn’t let up.  Final score was 44 – 29.  Leading scorer was Rex Henderson with 19.  Blake Graham had 13, Nolan Johnson 3, Jacob Hixenbuagh 3, Bailey Anderson 2, Dallas Miller 2, Ian Embry 2.

BCMS Bears will be in action at home Monday and Tuesday next week.  Game times are 5:30 each night.

Story and photo by Kim Grubb, Beech Tree News