by Michael Leonard
Sports Editor
The Bedford boys basketball team took a trip south over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend and ran into a buzzsaw.
The Bearcats traveled to Trent Arena in Kettering Jan. 19 to participate in the Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational. Their opponent: Findlay Prep of Las Vegas, an undefeated squad ranked as one of the best in the country by USA Today.
For the first time this season, the Bedford boys basketball team found themselves outclassed, getting drilled by Findlay Prep 78-48.
The loss dropped Bedford to 9-5 on the season. The Bearcats remain 5-0 in the Lake Erie League Erie Division.
According to Bedford coach Everett Heard, Findlay Prep was every bit as good as advertised.
"They're an excellent team," Heard said. "There were some coaches from MAC schools down their saying that Findlay could compete for the MAC title. We looked at it as a learning experience for us."
Findlay's 10-man roster included players from four states and six countries. Four members of the Pilots starting lineup have already committed to Division I colleges.
As a result of all that size and talent, Heard said the Bearcats were totally out of sync in the first half.
"We forced some shots outside shots in the first half and [Bearcat center Reggie] Keely got into a little foul trouble," Heard said. "In the first quarter, it was one and done for us. I think we were 4-for-12 from the foul line [in the first half] and we usually shoot 75 percent from the line."
Bedford went into halftime staring at a 35-10 deficit. With nothing to lose, Heard told his team to take a different view of the second half.
"We knew there wouldn't be that much of a drop off when they went to their bench," Heard said. "We told our guys 'It's 0-0 at halftime.' We started playing a good, solid game."
The Bearcats were outscored by only five points in the second half.
Heard said the Keely did some good things offensively in the second half, despite being outsized for the first time this season. Keely led the Bearcats with 16 points, 13 of which came in the second half.
After an off-shooting first half, Bearcat point guard Randal Holt found his stroke in the second half and finished with 14 points.
Lithuania native Deividas Dulkys led five Pilots in double figures with 17 points.
"You have to give those prep schools credit; they just play such outstanding defense that they shut you down," Heard said. "I wanted our guys to see what outstanding defense really looks like. We're getting ready for a LEL run and we're getting ready for our playoff run."
Bedford was set to travel to Brush Jan. 22, but results weren't available at press time.
"They have some tough guards," Heard said of the Arcs. "They have two or three people that can score with the ball. I'm sure we're one of the biggest games on their schedule."
Bedford will resume its LEL Erie Division schedule Jan. 25 at Lorain Southview. Junior varsity tip-off time it set for 6 p.m.
E-mail: mleonard@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3113