James Fabacher of Highland Baptist (25) puts up a shot between Breaux Bridge Christian defenders Chris Jones (1) and Damion Johnson on Monday. At left is Highland’s Blade Broussard. - Leah McClelland / Special to The Daily Iberian

Highland Baptist basketball coach Jerel Russo summed up the Bears’, problems on the court Monday night rather succinctly.

“We could have played a perfect game tonight and we still would have lost this one,” said the HBCS coach after the Bears were throttled by Breaux Bridge Christian 76-39 in Louisiana Christian School Athletic Association action.

Playing against a bigger front court and a quicker set of guards, the Bears just couldn’t keep up with the Knights, who bolted out to a 25-4 first quarter lead and cruised to the win.

It also didn’t help that Highland effectively went two full quarters without scoring a single point against BBCA.

“I think that scoring points is a very important part of basketball,” said Russo, whose team held a 2-point lead, 4-2, with six minutes left in the first quarter, then didn’t score again until there were just over six minutes left in the second quarter.

Then the Bears repeated their non-scoring ways in the fourth quarter, going almost six full minutes without a basket and finishing with 6 points in the final period.

“We just ran into a buzz saw and it rattled our kids,” said Russo, whose team fell to 3-4 on the season. “But that’s the kind of experience that we need to make us a better team.”

Breaux Bridge Christian dominated from the outset, using a built-in height advantage with twin towers in the middle, 6-foot-8 inch Chris Jones and 6-foot 7 3/4 inch Ryan Outar, who each had 13 points in the game and who regularly forced Highland’s players to alter their shots around the basket.

Add three speedy guards who forced numerous HBCS turnovers, and the Bears were playing from behind early and looking for any type of success — and points — against the Knights.

“We try to get our defense to lead to our offense,” said BBCA coach Malcolm Orgeron, whose team improved to 24-0 on the season. “We try to use our athleticism to get fast breaks. We have two big guys that can run and my three guards can also run.

“We try to get layups and dunks.”

Jones and Outar each had a dunk in the contest while Austin Lewis (23 points) and Blaine Huges (13 points) supplied many of the layups. 

It was just way too much for the Bears to handle.

“I’ve been in the LHSAA for quite a while and I’ve seen LHSAA teams that would have a very difficult time getting on the court with these kids,” said Russo, who spent several years as basketball coach at both Catholic High and Assembly Christian. 

David Provost led HBCS with 15 points, Gary Roberts added 11 points while James Fabacher had 8 points and Simieon Theodile finished with 5 points.

Russo told his players after the game that he was proud of the effort but in order to move on to the next level his team had to be a little more competitive against team like the Knights.

Highland returns to action tonight when the Bears play host to Christian Home Educators Foundation of Baton Rouge.쇓