Bridgeport Drops Two Straight Games to Class AAAA Foes as it Readies for Stretch Run of 2021 Season
By Jeff Toquinto on April 08, 2021
In a shortened season where back-to-back games, shortened schedules and even three games a week have been common due to COVID-19, this week’s schedule has just one game on the docket. And it is as planned.
For the first time in weeks, no games have been canceled and no games will be added to the Bridgeport High School boys’ basketball schedule as the postseason nears.
“It’s pretty much going to be this way the rest of the season,” said BHS Coach Dave Marshall.
Bridgeport moved to 6-3 last Wednesday after toppling Elkins by a 49-36 score. The game was close throughout the first half before the Indians pulled away in the second to get the win.
BHS was up 20-16 but extended the lead to double digits in the third period. When the final quarter arrived, the Tribe was up 36-24 and added to that advantage in the fourth.
Jaden Haywood was the player that helped turn the game solidly into Bridgeport’s favor. He finished with nine points in the game and all of those nine came on a trio of 3-point field goals in the third.
“There was no doubt about it that those shots were big. Jay can shoot the ball and is such a smart basketball player, and he’s a team guy, which made those shots a little more special,” said Marshall. “I think those shots loosened everyone else up.
“Outside of that stretch of shots and some great defense by Antonio Renzelli and Thomas Ayoob, there wasn’t much to talk about,” he 
continued. “It just wasn’t a good night even with the win.”
continued. “It just wasn’t a good night even with the win.”
Only one player hit double digits. Jack Bifano finished with 15 points in the contest. Mitchell Duez collected five steals.
The Indians looked to pick up win number seven on Thursday but had Class AAAA sixth-ranked Martinsburg as a roadblock. Although the Tribe battled throughout, they came up on the wrong end of a 57-48 score.
Bridgeport found itself battling back from deficits throughout the game. The team overcame an early 12-3 deficit to eventually lead 16-15 after one. The game stayed close throughout the rest of the first half with MHS takin a 23-21 lead into the intermission.
The visitors seemed ready to put the game out of reach in the second half. Martinsburg increased its advantage to 43-32 after three periods Martinsburg was actually up 40-22 in the frame before Bridgeport put on a 10-3 run – led by triples from Haywood and Anthony Spatafore – to make things respectable heading into the fourth.
BHS would continue to cut into the lead but could not get close enough to undo the damage. Martinsburg would seal the game from the foul line.
“It may have been carryover from the previous game with some fatigue, but we didn’t play well. Played hard, but we looked out of sorts. We looked like that all week,” said Marshall. “The one thing I wasn’t surprised about was that we didn’t give up.
“We challenged them during a timeout in the third quarter because it was getting away from us,” Marshall continued. “The battled and scrapped back into it, but the times we didn’t play well was too much to overcome.”
Bifano had 15 points to lead the Indians and was again the only player in double figures. Spatafore did finish the contest with nine.
Bridgeport saw a second-straight loss Monday. And this one was hard to take as the Indians watched Buckhannon-Upshur rally in the fourth quarter to get the 54-49 win in a Big 10 Class AAAA contest.
BHS led 11-10 after one and found itself down 23-19 at the half before getting things going in the third. The Tribe outscored B-U by a 19-10 count to hold on to a 38-33 advantage with one quarter to go.
The final quarter was dominated by the Buccaneers. Buckhannon outscored the Tribe 21-11 to get the victory.
The Indians were led by Duez who finished with 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Bifano added 15 points and nine rebounds in the setback.
“The real problem was Buckhannon. They came out and played harder than we did and wanted it more,” said Marshall. “That’s the hardest thing to deal with. You cannot have lapses in mental or physical energy or a combination of both and that all happened. Even with that, we had multiple opportunities to extend the lead and even get back on top and we were unable to do it.”
BHS is back in action Friday. The Tribe faces Lincoln at 7:30 p.m.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Anthony Spatafore dribbling against Martinsburg's defensive, while Jack Bifano heads to the basket in the second photo. Bottom photo shows Mitchell Duez going in for a layup. Photos by Ben Queen Photography.
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