Kimball Boys Outlast Bayard

The Longhorns survived on Saturday, besting Bayard 51-42. But for a time Kimball’s final December contest looked like an upset in the making. Bayard entered the day with a 2-3 record while Bruce Tjosvold’s side swept the home tournament and two more games in fine style.

So the outcome may have seemed inevitable.

But the visitors jumped out to a 4-0 advantage and held on despite a flurry of Caleb Reuter power moves to claim an 8-8 draw at the end of one.

“We overlooked them,” Zach Rockhold-O’Brien admitted. “And shots weren’t falling.”

Kimball hit just 5 of 24 from two point range in the first half, staying alive because the Tigers also hit a cold spell—and because the team never stopped firing.

Down 14-9 midway through the second, Rockhold-O’Brien tipped the ball from his mark, scooped it up and burst back down court. “I felt one kid from behind and saw another coming at me, so I clutched it in and let it go,” he reported.

His reactive move spit the defenders and the shot dropped through the net.

“I was just glad it fell,” Rockhold-O’Brien said.

The points seemed to inspire his teammates, who embarked on an 8-2 run. Rockhold-O’Brien drained a three, Reuter hit two from the line and Jordon Berger followed with another trey.

Against the run of play, Kimball held a 19-16 advantage at the break.

“We weren’t focused—that’s on me,” Tjosvold said, referring to the first quarter. “But Bayard’s a better team than people think.”

Indeed, the Tigers fought back and forth, tooth and nail in the third. David Schuler drained one from three point land. Bernie Bridge answered for the Longhorns, grappling for a rebound and forcing it home with defenders clutching his arm. He converted the bonus to retain the narrow margin.

Bayard’s Braydon Parriott stepped things up with an acrobatic move in the paint. Reuter responded in kind, finishing off a baseline drive with a nifty finger roll.

After a few rounds, Schuler and Parriott nudged the Tigers back on top, 26-24 with 5:28 to go in the period.

Momentum began to tip ever so slightly in Kimball’s favor moments later. Rockhold-O’Brien let loose from beyond the arc. The ball dinged off the rim and Reuter reacted quickly and with power. He fought through flailing arms, grabbed the board and popped it home.

“I always try to go for the rebound,” Reuter said. “I don’t mind guys shooting from outside—it’s an easy put back.”

By the end of three, the Longhorns clung to a 36-32 lead.

Although the home side never escaped Bayard’s clutches, a drive by Reuter, an early trey by Rockhold-O’Brien and three strong baskets forged by Jake Reader gave them enough breathing room in the final period to outlast the Tigers.

“I’m happy where we’re at,” Tjosvold explained. “We struggled, but we’re still at 5-0.”

The Longhorns enter the holiday break unbeaten and, adds Rockhold-O’Brien, “We haven’t played our best basketball yet.”

Kimball expects to have Mike Daum back from injury one or two games into the new year, as well. The 6’8 junior with a soft three point touch will certainly add to Tjosvold’s arsenal.

“I’m pretty excited,” Rockhold-O’Brien said when discussing Daum’s return. “I can get more assists.”

With the conference tournament and other key games looming, Reuter also welcomed the lanky center’s appearance.

“We need our best on the floor,” he noted.