Churchill Edges B-CC In Low-Scoring Contest

The  basketball team was 0-5 heading into its final contest before winter break against visiting on Wednesday night.

So leading up to the game, coach Damon Pigrom emphasized playing with "pride and passion," something this season's team has done at times, but seemingly forgotten at others.

On Wednesday, Pigrom got the effort.

The Barons started the game on a 5-0 run, hustled to disrupt passing lanes and held Bulldog guard Jordan Bass - Churchill's main perimeter threat- to three points in the first half en route to a 24-19 lead at the break.

But in the second half, B-CC lacked something else, and it led to a 37-33 loss.

"There was a lack of discipline," Pigrom said. "Like, in the first half, we did a good job of not allowing ourselves to get trapped and then in the second half, we lacked that discipline and allowed ourselves to get trapped on multiple occasions.

"It's like we fix two or three things in a matter of days and then create two or three different problems," Pigrom said. "And I like the fact that at least we played hard and we played with some type of passion. That's a positive. So we just have to keep building from here."

The Bulldogs (4-2) held the Barons (0-6) to three points in the third quarter, which allowed coach Matt Miller's team to take a 28-27 lead heading into the final eight minutes.

Even with B-CC's offensive struggles, Churchill needed a Baron turnover off a defensive rebound with 3.5 seconds left to secure the win.

Bulldog forward Sam Edens hit two free throws to stretch the lead to four points, the game's final margin.

"Both teams played really hard," Miller said. "You could tell [B-CC] came ready to play. They're hungry and they're much better than their record indicates. Our guys continued to fight and compete for the entire game and I'm very proud of their effort."

Churchill earned the win with only five points from Bass, one of the team's few senior leaders and the same player who scored 19 points in Monday's 51-47 win against Northwest.

Baron point guard Nigel Crayton (eight points) chased Bass through screens and around the perimeter and was mostly able to keep the ball out of his hands.

"I think it speaks to the character of our team. We don't have to hit a bunch of threes to win a ballgame," Miller said. "We have other guys we can go to, other guys who can hit the offensive glass, other guys who can step up and make a play inside. It's nice to have, across the board, a pretty balanced team."

Churchill will prepare for next week's Bobby Miller Classic, a tournament they'll host.

B-CC is still looking for its first win, and in next week's trip to Wildwood, N.J., for the Boardwalk Basketball Classic, it'll be difficult to come by.

The Barons will face LaSalle (Pa.), a Philadelphia Catholic League team, on Wednesday.

But Pigrom knows a turnaround has to start somehwere.

"It's not gonna be a vacation when we go," Pigrom said. "But I'd like to think that this is a start."

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