The Beal City Boys team captured their second straight District Title tonight, knocking off the 19-win Spartans of Pinconning at Beaverton High School, 47-33.
The game may not have went the way the Aggies wanted offensively – but Beal definitely brought it on the defensive end.
Pinconning came into the contest averaging over 67 points per game, but were held to half that by Friday’s finish.
It was tight throughout most of the first half, with the Aggies pulling away to a 12 point lead during the second quarter. Beal would hold onto this 7-17 point lead the rest of the way, continuing to create stop after stop on defense.
An Aggies team that averages over 60 points a game themselves, and typically knocks down a ton of triples – only hit 3 Friday and put up 47 points – but the defense is the reason they pulled this one out.
It’s back-to-back District Trophies for the Aggies – as they look ahead to facing Alcona on Tuesday next week in the Regional Semifinal in Lake City.
Junior Drake Gatrell led the way for the Aggies with 17 points, scoring at will at the basket in the first half.
Seniors Cole Tilmann and Owen McKenny were studs defensively, and contributed at the hoop as well as Cole had 8 & Owen added 7.
Austin Small hit 2 of the Aggies 3 triples and finished with 9. Sophomore Cuyler Smith drilled the other 3-ball of the game for Beal.
The Aggies, now 19-5, have a potential juicy rubber-match with McBain in the Regional Final next Thursday – but first have to get through 18th ranked (by the MHSAA) Alcona on Tuesday.
Stay up-to-date with our playoff schedule for next week throughout the weekend on our website and Facebook pages!
Kyle Sandel – Buck92 Sports Director
