Jackson never let Cheyenne South run away and hide in Wednesday’s makeup game but the Broncs could not overcome a sluggish start and a nightmare 3rd quarter when they did not score a single point.
Good news? Jackson outscored South in the 2nd and 4th quarters. Other encouraging highlights from the final game of the calendar year included the continued emergence of freshman Andrew Hanna, who made the most of his opportunity in the absence of Aiden Walker.
Isaac Larsen was another bright spot. The shifty guard flashed brilliance as a ball distributer. Larsen sees the floor well and there isn’t a pass he can’t make.
After a dismal start put the Broncs down 10 to begin the 2nd quarter, Hanna sparked a run with a block at one end, finished by a coast-to-coast lay-in. That jazzed the bench and Jackson closed within 6 at one point late in the first half.
Then disaster struck.
The Bison came out firing to start the second half while Jackson sputtered. The 18-0 3rd quarter was the Broncs’ undoing. Still, give Jackson credit for not quitting.
Henry Berezay gave the Black & Orange life when he drained a trey, posting all 7 of his points in the 4th quarter. Then Hanna went off. The power forward posts up well, makes himself an inviting target inside, and knows how to finish when he’s fed the rock.
Hanna finished the night with a team-high 16—most of his damage done in the final frame when the Broncs outscored the Bison 22-11. Fellow first-year man Gavin Keelin added 5, Gavin Brunner finished with 7, Larsen kicked in 5, and Sam Lopeman added a bucket.
The loss drops Jackson to 0-4 on the season.
