Brophy 69
Pinnacle 60
By Jack Davis ’19
THE ROUNDUP
Matthew Kempton ’17 led the team in scoring with 23 points Feb. 2 to help the Broncos outlast Pinnacle 69-60.
The win helped Brophy improve their record to 12-11.
Kempton credited his performance to film study and running the floor.
“We watched film before the game and we just saw what they did defensively and how we were going to get open looks as a team. A lot of my points were just off transition and my teammates finding me, so I think my teammates helped out a lot just finding me when I was open and I was able to finish my shots.”
Brophy scored 17 points early. It was a well balanced scoring attack in the first quarter, with Ian Burke ’18 leading the team with five points and swishing a corner three-pointer.
Burke finished with 10 points.
However, the Broncos could not gain any separation as Pinnacle was able to keep up, scoring 14 points of their own.
The Broncos capitalized on their lead with a high-scoring second quarter and got some breathing room. Brophy outscored Pinnacle 14-8, with Bo Brunkhost ’16 scoring six points including a four point play which he converted on.
Brunkhorst finished with 16 points. Ryan Meza ’17 helped the team defensively, taking two charges.
Head coach Matt Hooten chalked up the first half to defensive focus and smart offensive plays.
“I thought we came out with a tremendous amount of focus, particularly on the defensive end,” he said. “We made it really difficult for them early on in the game to get good shot opportunities, so we were able to hold them to 22 points in the first half.
“I thought we moved the ball really well, particularly in the first two quarters. We got a lot of open looks off of cuts or dives in the backside, and in the fourth quarter we played with poise, we handled their pressure, and we knocked down our free throws.”
Brophy continued the offensive flow in the third quarter, with Kempton recording nine points and a put-back layup off an offensive rebound over three defenders.
The Broncos outscored Pinnacle 17-13 and took a 47-35 lead into the final quarter.
The Broncos took their foot off the gas defensively in the last quarter, allowing Pinnacle 25 points. The Pioneers trimmed Brophy’s lead to five at one point, but the Broncos were able to score 22 points in the fourth quarter, 10 of which were Kempton’s, to hang on to a nine point win.
