Bedford boys basketball comes back in second half to beat Trinity (video)

BEDFORD - The Bedford High School boys basketball team mixed things up in the first half Tuesday night against Trinity, doing whatever it could to stay in the game.

At halftime, after regrouping, the Bulldogs went back to what they do best defensively, and did a better job of it.

Bedford's pressed caused problems for the Pioneers in the third quarter, helping the Bulldogs go on a 14-2 run to take the lead for good on the way to a 68-62 win over the defending Division I champs.

Brady O'Connell scored 16 of his game-high 28 points in the first half and Luke Soden had 16 of his 25 points in the second half and made four 3-pointers, as Bedford (2-0) trailed for most of the first half before pulling in front with 5:28 left in the third quarter.

"I thought the third quarter was great," Bedford coach Frank Moreno said. "We won the third quarter. We had to tighten some things up. We were relying on the press, we pulled the press off, mixed in a little zone in the second quarter. We said at halftime, we’ve got tighten things up a little bit and close out on shooters more. Go in transition and see if we can get some easy buckets."

The Bulldogs were able to get out and run, thanks in part to five turnovers in the third by the Pioneers (1-1) and their ability to force Trinity into hurrying up on offense.

"Our kids played hard," Trinity coach Keith Bike said. "I don’t question how hard we played, we’ve just got to play better. We lost our composure. Hopefully they recognize that. We have high expectations. We’ve got to do a better job of when we make a mistake, we can’t compound it to another one and another one. Our kids fought back."

After falling behind by as many as nine points in the third, Trinity got back to within one, 45-44, heading into the fourth and tied the game at 47 early in the quarter. Bedford responded with a 12-4 run to retake control.

Aiden O'Connell was also in double figurers for Bedford with 11 points while the Bulldogs were 17 of 26 from the free throw line.

Tyler Bike had 19 points, including three 3s, to lead Trinity while Jaiden Summers (13 points) and Evan Dunker (11) also had three 3s apiece. The Pioneers hit 10 3-pointers as a team, but were just 2 of 2 at the free throw line.

Six of those 3s came in the first half, as Trinity took the lead early, and every time Bedford came back, the Pioneers hit a big shot to stay in front.

"They were making shots," Moreno said. "They were raining 3s on us and we were off. That’s the worst shooting that I’ve seen for us. Maybe it was the big crowd. We haven’t had a crowd like this. We didn’t shoot the ball well, but we got them in foul trouble. I was begging and pleading with the kids to get to the rim, see if you can get to the free throw line."

Bedford was 8 of 11 at the line in the first half and trailed 30-29 at the break.

"We played well in the first half," Keith Bike said. "It was good how we stepped up to the challenge, but in the second half, we didn’t and lost our composure. We play hard, now we’ve got to play better."

DeVohn Ellis scored to open the third, giving Trinity a 32-29 lead, but Bedford answered with a 3-pointer by Soden, starting the Bulldogs on a 14-2 run that saw them take a 43-34 lead with 3:34 remaining in the quarter.

The Pioneers weren't done, as they responded by going on a 10-2 run to end the third, cutting the lead to one point. After two free throws by Aiden O'Connell to open the fourth, Summers hit a 3 to tie it at 47 with 6:50 remaining.

"They made it closer when I thought we were going to stretch the lead out a little bit," Moreno said. "8They are so good, so well-coached. I have more respect for Keith than I can describe and I knew they were come in ready."

Soden responded by hitting a jump shot and then a 3 to give Bedford a five-point lead, and after a basket by Ellis, Brady O'Connell and Soden each scored on second-chance opportunities to give the Bulldogs a 56-49 lead.

Trinity got the lead down to four points twice during the final two minutes, but couldn't get any closer.