Velma-Alma boys power past Bray-Doyle

COMANCHE - Kellan Biffle hit a three-pointer about five seconds after tip-off that started the ball rolling for the Velma-Alma Comets in a first-round game at the Stephens County Basketball Tournament.

It was the beginning of a 16-0 run to start off the game for the top-seeded Comets against Bray-Doyle. The momentum would continue to the final buzzer with Velma-Alma claiming a 78-17 win.

“(In a game like that) I’m looking for our team not to take a step back,” said Kenny Bare, head coach. “I want to keep trying to get better at this time of year. Our goal is to be going full speed, full stride in the second week of February. And I think since the Davis game (a 55-53 win on Jan. 6), from that point on, we kind of hit a different gear. And I didn’t want to go backwards tonight. So I just told them to play hard and we get better at doing what we do.”

Biffle’s three-pointer out of the gate was a sign of what was to come from Biffle, who scored all of his 31 points in the first three quarters, including 17 points in the first quarter, before giving way to bench players.

As a team, Velma-Alma used their pressure defense to force turnovers which led to several breakaway baskets and open shots. The Comets did what a top seed is expected to do as they rolled to their fifth straight win.

“We got a late start because of football,” Bare said. “We got them in on a Sunday and starting that Tuesday we played seven games in eight days, two in one day. And I felt like we didn’t have any practice because we had some new faces. We were playing all these games and I couldn’t call anything because they really didn’t know. So over Christmas break practices and up to this point, I feel like we’ve gotten a little better every week. I still think we can get a lot better from where we are now.”

Bare said he would like to see his team get better on defense.

“I think our kids, the more they’re in the gym, the better they are shooting. We just need a lot of repetition in what we do because of all the new faces. Some of them still when I make a call today they look at each other like ‘What is that?’ Bare said. “We need to get to where when we hear a call they know immediately what they are doing and the reason why we are doing it. Not just what I do, but what is the purpose of this. I still think we can get better in several different areas.”

Velma-Alma led 27-4 at the end of the first quarter and took a 45-6 halftime lead.

The Comets then came out after the half to score 24 points in the third and took a 69-15 lead into the final quarter.

Bray-Doyle’s best quarter was the third when they scored nine points, seven of which came from their sophomore post player Gunner McAnally.

Velma-Alma advances to the semifinals to take on No. 4 seed Central High on Thursday at 5:20 p.m. Bray-Doyle will play Empire in the consolation bracket on Friday at 5:20 p.m.

Scoring

Velma-Alma (12-2): Kellan Biffle, 31; Jackson Lohrer, 10; Alex Wilkerson, 10; Talon Quick, 8; Riley Hudman, 5; Isaac Camarillo, 4; Easton Beck, 4; Langston Walker, 2; Devin Hendricks, 2; Brodric Spigner, 2

Bray-Doyle (4-10): Gunner McAnally, 7; Brody Whitfield, 6; Jackson Anderson, 4