03/16/2026
What started out as a promising start to the day, ended in disappointment Saturday as Blackford fell short against 9th ranked Lapel in the regional, 67-55.
The Bruins came out on fire with Mari Leggett hitting, Reggie Duren draining a three-pointer, and Leggett scoring again to put Blackford up 7-0 at the 6:03 mark. Lapel's first points came at 4:42 in the opening segment. After baskets from Mason Kitterman and Eli Petro the Bruins lead stood at 11-3. The Bulldogs went on a 5-2 runs when Leggett sank a midcourt buzzer-beater to put the Bruins up 16-8 at the break..
The 2nd quarter started with Leggett throwing a behind-the-back pass to Petro who got the first of 2 dunks in the quarter. BHS led 18-8 at the 6:32 mark when the Bulldogs hit a three-pointer which ignited a 11-3 run cutting the lead to 21-19. After Lapel tied the game, Petro slammed home two points to once again put the Bruins back in front 23-21. At 2:18 in the half, Lapel hit a three to take their first lead of the game, 24-23. Petro scored the last 6 points of the half for Blackford to keep the Bruins in front 29-26 at the half.
The Bruins had 9 turnovers in the first half which led to nine Lapel points.
In the 3rd quarter it was turnovers that hampered the Bruins, who only scored seven points in the quarter. Leggett opened the quarter with two extending the Bruin lead to five. With 4:34 left in the 3rd Lapel took a 32-31 lead, and scored off a turnover to go up three. Kitterman responded with a three of his own, tying the game back at 34-34. Lapel scored the last six points of the quarter off turnovers, going up 42-36. Blackford turned the ball over 7 times in the quarter.
The Bruins came out firing on all cylinders to start the 4th as Petro, Kitterman, and Leggett had BHS within 44-43 three minutes in. Lapel then ran off 8 unanswered points (52-43) and other than a Leggett basket and a free throw, the Bulldogs went on a 18-5 run to lead 62-48. Kitterman and Leggett each hit a three late but 62-55 is as close as the Bruins would get.
Leggett led the Bruins with 23, Petro finished with 15 and Kitterman had 10.
The Bruins finished 20-7 on the year.
Watch for a final Bear Facts wrap up soon.
~ Bruin Recap by Chris Landis
