Bulldogs Make it Three Straight with Win Over Bacone

Article by Quincy Williams
Photo by Micah Gilbert

McPherson, Kan. - The McPherson Bulldogs Men's basketball team defeated the Bacone Warriors 91-72 Saturday night. It was the Bulldogs third win, and third blowout, in a row. 

The Bulldogs aggressively attacked the rim early but came up mostly empty. Delvon Hightower (Sr. Bakersfield, Calif.) and Kemryn Jenkins (Jr. Eminence, Ky.) led the Bulldogs through their early struggles.

Jenkins was on fire early canning three threes in the first ten minutes of the game. The Bulldogs dominated defensively, the Warriors could barely score. The fullcourt pressure that the Bulldogs execute unnerves other teams. Lual Magot (Sr. Tucson, Ariz.) was extremely active in the first half on the boards including one monster putback; he'd finish with 11 points and 11 rebounds, his third straight double-double. The score at the half was 48-26 but that actually understates how dominant this Bulldog team was. The score could've easily been 70-26. 

The second half was all about Dorian Paige (Sr. Tucson, Ariz) and Travon Shelvin (So. Pearland, Texas). Paige was all over the floor rebounding, assisting, and getting his own shot. He'd finish with eight points, four rebounds, and seven assists, a complete game. Travon Shelvin was the fire-man from deep tonight knocking down four and hitting a bevy of layups. Grant Munsen doesn't always stuff the stat sheet, but his impact was felt tonight. He saved a caroming ball from off the rim, threw it behind his back, it somehow found Hightower who then threw a crisp crosscourt pass to Shelvin who knocked down a three. That three doesn't happen without the hustle Munsen exhibited. The Bulldogs let up defensively somewhat in the second half, but their offense carried the day. 

This was a true team effort the Bulldogs had six players score in double digits. Coach Eskildsen noted this and more after the game, "I thought that we put together a great first half on the defensive end. Again our energy was very good. On the offensive end I felt like we did a good job of sharing the ball. Our ability to have multiple guys score in double figures is something that we need to continue to have." 

The Bulldogs next play Central Christian at the Roundhouse in the Mayor's Cup next Wednesday at 8:00 pm. 

Mac (91) – Shelvin (19), Jenkins (16), Hightower (13), Magot (11), Watts (10), Rivers (10), Paige (8), McCrary (4).