Jack Callahan blocks a long three-point attempt by Glide’s Dillon Towne. GINI DAVIS – THE CRESWELL CHRONICLE
The 13th-ranked Creswell Bulldogs improved to 5-2 and are second in league standings, behind eighth-ranked Coquille (6-1), heading into the final week of regular league play. The Dawgs defeated the host Pleasant Hill Billies, 47-37, on Jan. 30 and the visiting Glide Wildcats, 59-41, on Feb. 1.
Senior guard Chance Bellew sparked the Bulldogs in both games, scoring 15 points – all in the second half – against the Billies and 14 points against the ‘Cats.
With the Dawgs trailing 10-15 after one at Pleasant Hill and 20-24 at halftime, ”he was the difference in the game for us,” said Head Coach Jesse Thomas. ”He was just on fire in the second half. He made everything; he got to the bucket at will and made a very athletic alley-oop catch-and-finish off an out-of-bounds play from Trey (Magnuson).”
Sparked by Bellew, the Dawgs outscored the Billies 13-6 in the third quarter to lead 33-30 and won the final period 14-7.
Magnuson added 14 points and Jack Callahan had 10.
The Billies’ Stephen Parmenter finished with 16; he scored 11 in the first quarter. ”We just couldn’t keep him from getting to the bucket,” Thomas said. ”But after that we really locked in on defense, and we did a good job on their bigs, Logan Pruitt and Max Smith – we held them to six points each, and they had 29 between them in our last game.”
Creswell trailed 13-17 after one but led 29-26 at halftime. The ‘Cats clawed back in the third, tying it 31-31 at the 6:43 mark and taking a 35-31 lead with 5:41 remaining. But Creswell went on an 11-0 run to end the period up 42-35 and never looked back, holding Pleasant Hill to just two points in the fourth quarter.
Magnuson recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Bellew had 14 points, four rebounds and two steals; Apo came off the bench for 13 points; and Callahan added seven points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
”Kai played great on offense and defense; he had a ton of energy,” Thomas said of the sophomore. ”It was a breakthrough game for him. He helped us hit a huge third quarter and break things open.”
This week the Bulldogs travel to La Pine and host Harrisburg before hosting Coquille for their Senior Night game on Friday.
