By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – For the final test of the regular season, Bedford North Lawrence will seek to piece together two recent extended flashes of excellence for a complete performance.
For the first half at New Albany, the Stars were at eye level with the talented Bulldogs. For the first half at Brownstown, BNL was equal to the challenge. Both times, the second half was a different story. So for this final chapter of the campaign, the Stars will attempt to pen a finished manuscript.
BNL (6-15) will visit Jasper (13-8) on Thursday night, seeking a springboard victory into the postseason.
“During the half against New Albany and the half against Brownstown, we did some good things,” BNL coach Jackson Ryan said. “Unfortunately it’s a 32-minute game instead of 16 minutes. Consistency has been the name of the game for us, offensively and defensively. It feels like, if one thing is clicking one night, something else is off. So it’s continuing to preach the consistency and grinding it out.”
The Wildcats are starting to peak at the right time, with three wins in their last four outings, including a 62-44 triumph at Evansville Harrison on Tuesday, a bounce-back stretch from a three-game skid to begin the month.
Riley Foy scored 18 points, 6-5 forward Jaylen Maners added 13 and Logan Day totaled 12 during the win at Harrison.
“Everyone knows, from a physical standpoint, Jasper will always be Jasper, and this year is no different,” Ryan said. “There’s a mental toughness, a level of execution, they have.”
BNL will counter with scoring leader Dax Short (14.4), while sophomore Easton Moore is coming off a career-high 19 points at Brownstown.
The Wildcats won last year’s clash 60-52 at BNL Fieldhouse. Jace Foy had 17 points (including four treys), Brayden Giesler added 15 points and 10 boards, and Day had 14 points for Jasper. Patric Matson paced the Stars with 17 points.
BNL at JASPER
When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Records: BNL 6-15; Jasper 13-8
Sagarin ratings: BNL 64.05; Jasper 78.28
Series: Jasper leads 13-12
Last meeting: Last year at BNL, the Wildcats spoiled Senior Night for the Stars with a 60-52 win. Jace Foy had 17 points for Jasper, while Patric Matson totaled 17 for BNL.
Previous game story: Wildcats ruin Senior Night for Stars
Game notes: BNL’s last win at Jasper came during the 2010-11 season. Jasper coach John Goebel holds the most wins with the program in its rich history with 256 during his 19 seasons.
Starting lineups
Bedford NL Stars
F – Gibson Crane 6-3 Sr.
F – Easton Moore 6-2 So.
G – Dax Short 6-1 Sr.
G – Parker Kern 6-1 Jr.
G – Driven Axsom 5-8 Sr.
Jasper Wildcats
F – Jaylen Maners 6-5 Jr.
G – Logan Day 6-1 Sr.
G – Jack Levin 5-10 Sr.
G – Riley Foy 5-10 So.
G – Max Bueltel 5-9 Sr.
