Both teams got off a sluggish start, finally Carter Trumbore would a launch a deep ball that would tickle the twine to trigger all scoring and gift the Bears an early 3-0 advantage. Ferguson would grab a put back basket, but immediately following, Trumbore would burry another triple to spark a 7-0 Bears run. Murry would line up a three for the Bulldogs, leading to a 7-0 run of their own to pull within 1. At the end of the first quarter, the Bears led 15-13.
El Dorado started the 2nd Period with the ball, and Ferguson hammered a three to take the Bulldogs first lead of the night. Turmbore would drive to the rack on the other end, and the back-and-forth would ensue. The Bears would find themselves on the wrong end of a 13-5 run, but would close out the quarter on a 4-0 run themselves and find themselves trailing by just 1 at the break, 31-30
Gordon triggered the scoring for the half, answered quickly by a driving Trumbore for the Bears. Trumbore’s basket would ignite a yet another basket exchange by both teams. After a tightly contested 3rd period, the Bulldogs would take a 43-41 lead into the final 8 minutes.
To begin the final period, Davidson scored for the Bears to tie the game up at 43-43 and spark a 7-2 Butler run that would see the Bears reclaim a 48-45 lead with right around 4 minutes left in regulation. Out of a Butler time-out, Murry would get fouled and go to the line for a chance to take the lead for El Do, he would go 1 of 2 and tie the game at 48-48. Trumbore would drive to the rack and reclaim a 2 point lead. Davidson went 1-2 from the line to extend the Bears lead to 3 with under 2 minutes left. After Murry fouled out of the game, Trumbore went back to the stripe and sunk a pair to take a 2 possession lead with just above 1 minute left. With under 30 seconds, Davidson would split a pair of free throws to take a 4 point 54-50 Butler lead. Jake Chandler would continue to stretch the lead, burying a pair of free throws, and the Bears would come out victorious 56-50.
Trumbore led all scoring with 32 points and 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and a pair of assists. Davidson recorded 12 points and 9 rebounds to go along with 3 blocks, while Chandler pitched in 9 points and 8 rebounds as well.
The Bulldogs were led by Ferguson with 17 points and 6 rebounds.
The Bears will go on to meet the Blackhawks in the district championship game on Saturday.
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-Courtesy of Cody Morris
