By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Time of possession is a simple statistic to track in football, and it’s usually an indicator of which team has established superiority. In basketball, even without a shot clock (may it never be adopted in high school), it’s harder to chart. Yet its importance will be significant when Bedford North Lawrence starts its journey into the Hoosier Hills Conference.
The Stars will travel to vastly-improved Columbus East for the league debut on Friday night, and the battle lines are obvious. East, off to its best start in a decade, is one of the state scoring leaders. BNL does not want to get involved in a shootout. So it’s quality versus quantity, patience versus volume, style against style. BNL will look to make time, and East, stand still.
The Olympians, with Keaton Lawson off to an incredible junior campaign, are averaging a scary 77.0 points per game after their first three wins. Lawson has been sensational, scoring a career-high 44 points against Trinity Lutheran. He’s totaling 27.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 4.0 steals – all team highs – as the catalyst for East.
But he’s not alone. Junior forward Carter Patterson is contributing 18.0 points and 7.3 boards, while senior guards Ethan Bumbalough (10.0) and Mason Reeves (9.3) are capable release valves. BNL (3-1) will have its hand full when attempting to control tempo and shut down this multi-dimensional attack.
“We can’t let it be a shootout,” BNL coach Kurt Godlevske said. “So we will have to do a good job of defending, taking away their perimeter stuff and not getting beat to the basket. We can’t play as fast. We have to make sure we have quality possessions. It’s like football, our time of possession has to be higher than theirs.“
Lawson, who exploded for 23 first-quarter points against Lutheran, is shooting 62 percent from the floor, while Reeves and Bumbalough have been dangerous from long range.
“It starts with our penetrators in Lawson and Patterson,” East coach Perry Nash said. “However, with the surrounding cast shooting 40 percent from three, I feel like we put defenses in a pick-your-poison situation. Lawson has been amazing in all areas. He is a special player.
“We want to get up and down, however we know BNL wants to slow it down a bit. So we will see what style prevails.”
BNL has won five straight in the series, including its own amazing performance last year at BNL. The Stars hit 11 of 15 treys, with Noah Godlevske netting six en route to 24 points, during a 71-38 triumph. BNL hit 12 of its first 13 shots in the second half while outscoring East 43-16 after intermission.
“BNL can always shoot the ball,” Nash said. “We are going to have to get out on their shooters. We can’t get into a game of horse.”
The Stars are paced by senior Patric Matson (17.8) and senior post Logan Miracle (10.0), while senior sniper Quincy Pickett is adding 9.8 while hitting 11 3-pointers in four games.
BNL is starting the chase to regain the HHC title since sharing it in 2023. East won the league title in 2003.
“It’s tough,” Godlevske said. “You can’t have a shot to win the conference if you don’t win the first one. It will be an important aspect for both teams.”
“We really want to start out 1-0,” Miracle said. “It will be a really good challenge. I really want to see if we can get out and defend.”
BNL at COLUMBUS EAST
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: BNL 3-1 (0-0 in HHC); Columbus East 3-0 (0-0 in HHC)
Last meeting: Last year at BNL, the Stars exploded in the second half for a 71-38 victory. Noah Godlevske hit 6 treys and scored 24 points as BNL hit 12 of its first 13 shots after intermission. Carter Patterson had 12 points for East.
Previous game story: Sizzling Stars explode in second half
Game notes: East ranks 12th in the state in scoring at 77.0 points per game. BNL has won five straight in the series. East is 3-0 for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Dax Short 6-1 Jr.
F – Isaiah Sasser 6-0 Sr.
C – Logan Miracle 6-5 Sr.
G – Patric Matson 6-5 Sr.
G – Quincy Pickett 6-3 Sr.
Columbus East Olympians
F – Keaton Lawson 6-5 Jr.
F – Carter Patterson 6-3 Jr.
G – Ethan Bumbalough 6-2 Sr.
G – Mason Reeves 5-8 Sr.
G – Danny Coriden 6-0 Sr.
