FREMONT – The Little Giants took turns Tuesday night.
Bryce McKinstry and Bryce Root went first. Then Tre Campbell went. Keyon Sewell got a turn. As did Jabryis Heidelburg. And Davion Anderson. Then Maliek Johnson. One by one, Ross’ boys basketball team stepped to the fore, each taking their turn providing their team with spark, a run of points, a steal on defense, or a well-timed bucket.
No stats jumped off the scorebook, except the only one that mattered, the final score, a 66-51 victory over Springfield. The win snaps a five-game losing streak for the Little Giants, a streak defined by the competition – four of whom entered Tuesday night with 12 or more wins – moreso than Ross’ own performance.
Entering the night knowing they were on even footing against their competition, the Little Giants wasted little time asserting themselves, particularly down low. Six-foot-4 center Bryce McKinstry dominated early on, crashing the boards and attacking the basket in the post. He scored nine points in the game’s first 5:15 and grabbed three rebounds and had a block in the opening quarter as well.
If McKinstry wasn’t scoring early, it was Bryce Root. Root ended the first period with seven points and an assist. He then began the second quarter assisting on a layup by Tre Campbell, then hitting a nice turnaround-jumper to give the Little Giants a 23-11 lead a minute into the period.
Ross continued the scoring barrage when Campbell hit his second 3-pointer in less than two minutes. Soon after that, Hayden Lehmann scored. Both Campbell and Lehmann’s buckets came on assists from Davion Anderson.
Ross took a 32-23 lead into halftime.
Following halftime, Keyon Sewell stepped forward. He scored Ross’ first seven points of the third quarter, including a 3-pointer to keep Ross’ lead a comfortable 10 points.
Springfield remained competitive through the night. Repeatedly cutting Ross’ lead to 6, 7 or eight points, but the Little Giants always had an answer, be it a bucket or a defensive stop when they needed it and never allowed the Blue Devils to seriously threaten to comeback.
Springfield cut the deficit down to six, 46-40, late in the third quarter when Jabryis Heidelburg drove the lane and scored while drawing a foul. He connected on the free throw to complete the three-point play. Though they were his only points of the night, they were arguably the biggest three points of the game.
Ross opened the fourth quarter on a 5-0 run then put the Blue Devils away with an 8-0 spurt to go ahead 62-46 with less than three minutes remaining.
Root finished 15 points, Campbell had 14 and McKinstry finished with 13.
The Little Giants (4-10 overall) remain at home on Friday when they host Toledo Central Catholic. The Irish are 6-8 overall and riding a five-game losing streak though they defeated Ross 48-39 on Dec. 15.
For more details, visit the Ross Sports Report.