Spirited opener goes Bulldogs’ way

OSGOOD – A pair of versatile senior bigs were the stars of an energetic showdown at Jac-Cen-Del Saturday night, as the host Eagles’ 6-foot-7-inch Devin Grieshop matched Batesville’s 6-8 Cole Pride point for point. Fortunately for the latter, he had a more supportive cast as four BHS starters were in double figures in the 69-59 victory.
Scoring on two-handed slams and long 3-pointers – and various spots in between – Pride (25 points) and Grieshop (23) combined for 48 points, though the Bulldogs separated from JCD late in the game to stop a three-game skid in the county series.
A 4-point game with six minutes left, the guests got a key triple from junior Sam Johnson to make it 55-48. After trading free throws, sophomore Carson Laker got to the line for 1-and-1; he hit the first, missed the second, but junior Jack Grunkemeyer was there for the putback to give BHS a 60-50 advantage. Out of a timeout, “Grunk” had another offensive follow-up.
Tip-ins by sophomore Cade Kaiser and Pride produced a 66-52 lead with just 2:40 remaining. Around a timeout, JCD scored the next five points. Kaiser answered with a traditional 3-point play to keep the Eagles in a 12-point hole. The fourth quarter had gone in BHS’ favor, 20-15.

After a 6-0 Bulldog start – Pride hitting for two and three – the Eagles were within two at three intervals in the second period but never held the lead all night. A three by Johnny Newhart made it 25-23 late in the opening half. Johnson then dished to Pride for two and connected on a couple free tosses. Grieshop pleased the Osgood crowd with a baseline jam, but Pride responded with a pair of offensive tips to put BHS up 33-25 at the break.
A pull-up by Kaiser and Grunkemeyer basket (Pride assist) started second-half play to give BHS its biggest lead yet at 12. JCD wouldn’t quite go away so early, going on a 19-12 run to end the quarter.
Seth Drockelman lined up a trey and Grieshop scored five straight to cut the deficit to 39-33. A Grunkemeyer curl in the lane and Kaiser’s baseline jumper sent the spread back to double digits. A steal and slam for Grieshop, followed by a nice high-low feed to Matt Dickman, made it 43-38. Grunkemeyer, Johnson (from Kaiser) and Pride baskets were plenty to keep the Dogs ahead moving into the fourth. Kaiser then scored the first three points of the new frame; Dickman and Drockelman lay-ins made it 52-48.
Laker’s Euro-step hoop and five points for Johnson (including a 3) had coach Clint Bohman calling timeout down 13-4 in the first. It was 14-6 at the initial buzzer.
Drockelman scored twice to answer a Kaiser 10-footer, but Pride took a Laker assist up over the rim for a decisive dunk. Pride then added five (second 3-pointer) to his 19-point monster first half to offset threes by Drockelman and Newhart.
Additional scoring for BHS went Kaiser (16), Johnson (14), Grunkemeyer (11) and Laker (3) as the starting five accounted for every tally. Drockelman added 15 for the hosts.
BHS (1-0) welcomes Greensburg Friday.